In today’s society, it is not uncommon to find that people are bootlegging movies. Perhaps you were on your way home from work on the subway and were approached by a man or woman selling bootleg copies of the newest box office hits. Or maybe you were on your way inside your local convenient store only to find a hustler approach you with a bag load of bootleg movies two for $10. Either way, bootlegging is a crime that you will be punished for doing.
The film industry is working hard to push tougher penalties for sneaking video cameras into theaters. According to the Motion Picture Association, if you are caught videotaping in a movie theater in the state of New York, your first offence is considered a misdemeanor with up to one year in prison and a fine of $1000 or both. New York happens to be one of the places with the biggest bootleg problem. Your second and subsequent offence is considered a felony class E with up to four years in prison or up to a fine of $5000.
In other states like Kentucky the federal law states that videotaping of a motion picture is a felony. Your first offense could get you up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or more depending on the circumstances. Your second and subsequent offence could get you up to 6 years in prison.
About 90 percent of pirated movies can be traced. With all the new technology such as watermarking films, film companies are able to trace through forensic analysis the very movie theater your bootleg movie was recorded. So if you are considering bootlegging or know someone who does, you should think twice because the price you will have to pay is hardly worth it.