For the First Time in Canada, Movie Pirate has been Sent to Jail

Canadian Geremi Adam, a 27-year-old considered by the FBI to be among the most prolific movie pirates in North America, was sentenced on March 16th in a Quebec court to a two and a half month prison term, as well as 100 hours of community service, and a two-year suspended sentence. Conditions of his suspended sentence include a ban on going to the movies or carrying recording equipment outside his home or work. He pleaded guilty to two counts under the Copyright Act for distributing copies of Hollywood movies on the Internet under the alias maVen in 2006. The maximum sentence he could have received was six months in jail and a $25,000 fine. But Mr. Adam can consider himself lucky – under tougher anti-pirating legislation introduced in June 2007, a conviction under the Criminal Code for an act of unauthorized camcording carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, and anyone convicted of camcording for commercial purposes faces imprisonment for a maximum of five years. (see “Movie Anti-Piracy Legislation Tabled in Parliament” E-TIPS® Vol 5, No 24, June 6, 2007). For related stories, see: http://tinyurl.com/yzz54dg; and http://tinyurl.com/ygnt29b Summary by: Clare McCurley