![Cinema Treasures](/images/app/logo.png?1723737594)
California Cracks Down on Video Pirates
posted by
Patrick Crowley
on
December 11, 2003 at 8:01 am
LOS ANGELES, CA — a new California state law, set to become active on January 1, will make recording a feature film with a camcorder a misdemeanor punishable by one year in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500, according to a report in camcorderinfo.com.
The law, signed by former governor Gray Davis, is designed to cut down on illegal recording activity in movie theaters, which is considered to be a primary source of bootleg movies sold on street corners in DVD form or downloaded from the Internet.
Comments (1)
Somewhat comically, the law also encourages moviegoers to make a citizen’s arrest if they see someone making an illegal recording.
I can just see it now… “Put the videocamera on the ground and your hands in the air, punk!”