Cuomo seeks stiffer penalties for film piracy The Associated Press
Bootleggers beware: New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo wants to toughen the penalty for film piracy to include jail time. With actress Tina Fey at his side, Cuomo proposed state legislation Monday that would make it a misdemeanor to illegally record a fi lm or live performance, or to sell such footage for commercial purposes. Currently, those caught committing piracy are hit with a violation that only carries a fine. Under the proposal, a first-time offender would face up to a year in prison and a repeat offender would be charged with a felony. New York City already has upgraded film piracy to a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to six months in jail for a first offense. “New York has become the hub for a criminal network dedicated to film piracy,” Cuomo said at a news conference. “The wide distribution of pirated films originating from New York costs our state vital economic resources, including thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue.” The Motion Picture Association says a large chunk of bootlegged films are recorded in New York City theaters. The duplications are typically sold for mass reproduction or posted on the Internet, sometimes just hours after the movie has premiered. Pirated movies cost major U.S. film studios more than $6 billion in 2005, according to the association. A study by the group shows that the New York City movie industry alone loses an estimated $1.5 billion a year due to piracy, and the local economy suffers further with lost earnings, tax revenue and jobs. Cuomo’s proposal has to be introduced in the state Legislature. Brian Gorman, spokesman for State Sen. Frank Padavan, who is expected to co-sponsor it with State Sen. Dale Volker, said it should be introduced within a week.
MARK LENNIHAN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, right, talks with Jeff Zucker, left, President and CEO of NBC Universal, and actress Tina Fey during a news conference Monday in New York City. Cuomo is proposing state legislation that would make it a misdemeanor to illegally record a film or live performance, or to sell that type of footage for commercial purposes. The legislation is supported by the Motion Picture Association of America.
“New York has become the hub for a criminal network dedicated to film piracy,” Cuomo said at a news conference. “The wide distribution of pirated films originating from New York costs our state vital economic resources, including thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue.”
He's all happy to be rubbing elbows with the actors....yeah,,,,,but this is very very short sighted statement.....maybe he could look into the NYS lotto/numbers system first........I'm sure that little guy, what's his name?--Little bit'o Luck would love to meet him......
THEY STILL DONT PUT FOOD ON MY TABLE...........the actors/actresses and CEO's of corporate media have enough money to build compounds for themselves-----SUCK IT UP!!!!!
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS