92 yr old sticks it to the MPAA

[CaseAgainstFaith]

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. — One of the world’s most prolific bootleggers of Hollywood DVDs loves his morning farina. He has spent eight years churning out hundreds of thousands of copies of “The Hangover,” “Gran Torino” and other first-run movies from his small Long Island apartment to ship overseas.

“Big Hy” — his handle among many loyal customers — would almost certainly be cast as Hollywood Enemy No. 1 but for a few details. He is actually Hyman Strachman, a 92-year-old, 5-foot-5 World War II veteran trying to stay busy after the death of his wife. And he has sent every one of his copied DVDs, almost 4,000 boxes of them to date, free to American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With the United States military presence in those regions dwindling, Big Hy Strachman will live on in many soldiers’ hearts as one of the war’s more shadowy heroes.

“It’s not the right thing to do, but I did it,” Mr. Strachman said, acknowledging that his actions violated copyright law.

“If I were younger,” he added, “maybe I’d be spending time in the hoosegow.”

Capt. Bryan Curran, who recently returned from Afghanistan, estimated that from 2008 to 2010, Mr. Strachman sent more than 2,000 DVDs to his outfits there.

In February, Mr. Strachman duplicated and shipped 1,100 movies. (“A slow month,” he said.) He has not kept an official count but estimates that he topped 80,000 discs a year during his heyday in 2007 and 2008, making his total more than 300,000 since he began in 2004. Postage of about $11 a box, and the blank discs themselves, would suggest a personal outlay of over $30,000.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/nyregion/at-92-movie-bootlegger-is-soldiers-hero.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

I doubt the MPAA will go after him, it would be a PR nightmare.  I have to say though that his dedication to the men overseas is admirable. 

[ironbite]

You haven't met the MPAA yet have you?

[MadCatTLX]

You haven't met the MPAA yet have you?

Didn't they try to sue an 11 year old girl with cancer for downloading 5 songs or something? I think they tried to sue for over $10,000.

[ironbite]

That's the RPAA.  Easy mistake I know but there is a distinction.

[tempus]

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. — One of the world’s most prolific bootleggers of Hollywood DVDs loves his morning farina. He has spent eight years churning out hundreds of thousands of copies of “The Hangover,” “Gran Torino” and other first-run movies from his small Long Island apartment to ship overseas.

“Big Hy” — his handle among many loyal customers — would almost certainly be cast as Hollywood Enemy No. 1 but for a few details. He is actually Hyman Strachman, a 92-year-old, 5-foot-5 World War II veteran trying to stay busy after the death of his wife. And he has sent every one of his copied DVDs, almost 4,000 boxes of them to date, free to American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With the United States military presence in those regions dwindling, Big Hy Strachman will live on in many soldiers’ hearts as one of the war’s more shadowy heroes.

“It’s not the right thing to do, but I did it,” Mr. Strachman said, acknowledging that his actions violated copyright law.

“If I were younger,” he added, “maybe I’d be spending time in the hoosegow.”

Capt. Bryan Curran, who recently returned from Afghanistan, estimated that from 2008 to 2010, Mr. Strachman sent more than 2,000 DVDs to his outfits there.

In February, Mr. Strachman duplicated and shipped 1,100 movies. (“A slow month,” he said.) He has not kept an official count but estimates that he topped 80,000 discs a year during his heyday in 2007 and 2008, making his total more than 300,000 since he began in 2004. Postage of about $11 a box, and the blank discs themselves, would suggest a personal outlay of over $30,000.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/nyregion/at-92-movie-bootlegger-is-soldiers-hero.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

I doubt the MPAA will go after him, it would be a PR nightmare.  I have to say though that his dedication to the men overseas is admirable.

They honestly can't afford not to.  The message the **AA have been diligently sending over the past ten or so years has been that they will pursue and punish ANYONE suspected of using or distributing their product without their permission, without sentiment, pity, mercy or restraint.  Punishing a 92 year old man with a patriotic streak enforces the message that no one who pirates is safe.  Even if they lose the case in court, they've still cost him time, money and aggravation, and I'm sure they're sufficiently cold-blooded to realize that if they tie him up long enough, nature may take care of their problem for them. 

But I can still HOPE there's a backlash.  Nothing would please me more than to see them burn at this point. 

[Fpqxz]

They honestly can't afford not to.  The message the **AA have been diligently sending over the past ten or so years has been that they will pursue and punish ANYONE suspected of using or distributing their product without their permission, without sentiment, pity, mercy or restraint.  Punishing a 92 year old man with a patriotic streak enforces the message that no one who pirates is safe.  Even if they lose the case in court, they've still cost him time, money and aggravation, and I'm sure they're sufficiently cold-blooded to realize that if they tie him up long enough, nature may take care of their problem for them. 

But I can still HOPE there's a backlash.  Nothing would please me more than to see them burn at this point.

Agreed on this point.  Also remember that the lawyers who work for RIAA/MPAA are generally soulless mercenaries who care only about their paychecks.  They tend not to turn down cases if it means they can boost their billable hours.

[Søren]

The law is the law. you cant base quitting out on a case based on mere principle

[Fpqxz]

The law is the law. you cant base quitting out on a case based on mere principle

But there is such a thing as prosecutorial discretion.  Prosecutors have the right to forgo pursuing criminal charges against a suspect (within certain limits, of course).  Likewise, plaintiffs in civil cases can settle out of court or simply choose not to sue if they think it isn't worth the time/money/bad publicity.

It's hard to say whether the MAFIAA sees it this way.