Movie Pirate Jailed for Seven Years
Written by Ernesto on December 05, 2006Johnny Ray Gasca, a resident of Hollywood, has been sentenced to seven years in jail for recording a film with his camcorder in a local cinema. Gasca is the first to be convicted in a nationwide campaign against movie piracy.
In total, Gasca was arrested three times for bringing a camcorder into cinemas. In 2002 he was arrested at private screenings of “The Core” and “8 Mile”. In 2003 he was caught on tape by a camera at a screening of “Anger Management”. The camera was meant to record the response of of audience to the movie, but could now be used to prove that Gasca was actually recording.
Gasca represented himself in this case and was found guilty of copyright infringement, using a fake social security number, and fleeing his lawyer’s custody. In his defense he said that he didn’t profit from the recordings. However, the prosecution found Garcia’s diary in which he wrote that he earned $4000 a week by selling illegal copies on the street.
“We are pleased that the court recognized Gasca’s crimes today with a fitting punishment,” said MPAA Chairman Dan Glickman in a response to the conviction.
Previously: BitTorrent Video Store to be Infected with Windows DRM
Next: MPAA Shows Off Anti-Piracy Dogs in Dubai
9 Responses (Add yours or TrackBack)
Only in America…
Ok, what he did was not very smart and illegal but still, where else do you get 7 years for something like that?
Completely unbelievable! A person murders someone as is released on parole sooner that 7 years, and lol this guy tapes some stupid movie and gets sent to prison for longer than the murderer. This lunism can’t continue forever. Something will have to give. And I don’t think political party change will be enough, because I fear those idiot democrats will do far worse…
…Only 7 years !!! I guess the MPAA is getting soft ! Normally copyright infringement gets you the death sentence. I mean, we are not talking about murder or rape here, but about RECORDING MOVIES ! Helping PIRATES to steal money from our precious corporations that bring us 1st quality entertainment like “You, Me and Dupree” ! Worse crime ever ! Seriously people, I hope this guy rots in his cell.
Land of the free, right?
Load of shit… This whole fucking country is a jail. So what they did to this guy was just shift of cell.
What till the dems run against bush… you bet as soon as the domestic agenda re-enters the amerikan collective psyche, “cleaning up the internet” will be a top campaign priority.
Fuck ‘em all. Rob em blind while you can..
make the internet safe for yuppie spawn named Dillon and Tyler, 3 year olds who just don’t BLEONG on the internet… Oh but isn’t it cute..
At first I expected to be outraged, but if he was profiting on other people’s work, I don’t really have any sympathy. As an artist I don’t mind people enjoying my work and downloading it and sharing it. But when someone else profits off it, that’s where I draw the line.
wtf does it matter if somebody does profit?! if your a good artist your gonna be rich any way,and besides it’s good promoting when you do have all over the net. this my thing.. if they wouldn’t came up w the www they wouldn’t have the prob any way so stop cryin you lame people. get a life! and plus the riaa is mad because people are taking crumbs off the table from the wealthy. the little people are suppose to suffer and be broke and poor w no means of a great living. and then on top of that half of the movies and music that comes out is crap any way. once again our rights are not valid! some america we live in huh? like # 1 said some america! i’ve seen peeps get off from drug and murder charges,this system is full of sh…! and they know it. and what’s so crazy they are the ones who do it too. lmao! crooked as hell.how they gonna convict somebody on something when they themselves don’t go by the law. REMEMBER THE GREAT GOD IS WATCHING ALL OF THIS AND WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.
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