A Hong Kong man has been convicted of movie internet piracy in what is believed to be the first case involving BitTorrent file-sharing software.
Chan Nai-ming was found guilty of copyright infringement for distributing three Hollywood blockbusters using BitTorrent, said a court official.
BitTorrent is widely used to trade material like TV shows and movies.
He had been charged in April for uploading three Hollywood blockbusters to the net – Daredevil, Red Planet and Miss Congeniality.
The Hong Kong government said the case was its first successful action against peer-to-peer file sharing. The maximum penalty is four years’ jail and a hefty fine.
“This ruling means a lot,” said Hong Kong Commerce Secretary John Tsang, explaining that it would deter other possible file-sharers.
The Hong Kong customs department said that since the arrest illegal file-sharing had fallen by 80%.
I’m curious to see how this proceeds. After I buy my second Mac [yes, Eideard is a recent switcher], I’d thought about using my Mini as a BitTorrent node. Mostly for old movies and sporting events not carried in the US.
Which is hilarious, because if the guy had simply left his apartment and walked to the nearest corner, he could have bought the DVD for next to nothing.
It’s amazing to me that real piracy, where huge profits are made, is ignored while file sharing between friends is hammered.
Daredevil? Red Planet? These are blockbusters? I sense a little media hyperbole here. Probably to make the guy seem more heinous. They should add a line: “He was arrested just before he pirated Bambi.”
Daredevil and Red Planet? If he watched these and didn’t pay the producers of these schlocks, then he is one of the few that didn’t get ripped off.
Warning people: hide your IP!!!