p2pnet - rss feed: MPAA kops in another ‘raid’
p2pnet.net News:- The last-but one ‘operation’ of the MPAA, whose Keystone Kop unit is run by ex-US Department of Justice deputy assistant attorney general John G. Malcolm, was a media circus.
Helped by the Southern California High Tech Task Force, Malcolm and his crew ‘raided’ New Century Media, a legitimate Los Angles duplicating business.
It’s an “illegal DVD/CD replicating plant,” Malcolm charged as he and his unit seized “$30 million in illegal stampers and DVDs”.
However, the $30 million figure was pure Hollywood fiction, no ‘pirate’ product was seized and “False allegations” have “slandered our name and reputation and damaged the business that my husband and I spent 14 years to build,” said Jennifer Yu, New Century Media’s owner.
Of silent movie fame, Mack Sennett’s Keystone Kops were an, “insanely incompetent police force”.
Now the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) has raided the home and business of a man it “suspected” of illegally providing movies and other materials for downloads, says United Press International going on:
“The North Carolina Secretary of State Anti-Counterfeit Trademark Task Force searched the Morganton, N.C., home and workplace of Charles Harbison, known on the internet as ‘dr. strangelove’.”
Harbison is accused of using the Underground Information Chat Network to, “illegally provide thousands of movies, music files, video games and other copyrighted material to members of his network,” says the MPAA.
“The search team seized items including Harbison`s laptop computer, computer equipment satellite boxes, satellite access cards and pirated movies,” states the UPI story
“Peddling movies illegally is a prescription for punishment, and the `doctor` ought to have known better,” said Malcolm in a clever byte-bite which might almost have come from his boss, Dan Glickman, once known as “one of the funniest men in Congress”.
Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
See:-
media circus - MPAA accused of slander, p2pnet, June 22, 2005
Hollywood fiction - IFPI ‘ravaged by pirates’ report, June 24, 2005
United Press International - Suspected movie pirate`s N.C. home raided, June 22,2005
one of the funniest - New MPAA boss a comedian, p2pnet, July 2, 2004
June 26th, 2005 at 3:05 am
“Underground Information Chat Network”
Are they referring to IRC?
June 26th, 2005 at 4:53 am
I think that could be it ; ) You know - that secret group where the members somehow ‘talk’ to each other instantly and without telephones?
heh
Cheers!
June 26th, 2005 at 11:43 am
I guess yes, UnderNet I suppose
June 28th, 2005 at 1:28 am
I do not understand how the MPAA, a non-governmental organization, can search a home. That is against the law.
July 17th, 2005 at 5:07 pm
So, 1 month later and no charges have been filed and this guy is out of work and going broke. MPAA strikes out again. Maybe they should look in their own back yard where the stars of their movies distribute the screener DVDs to anyone that wants them. Fix the root cause not some poor guy trying to make a buck an honest way and raid his shop because someone said someone said……………..daaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
June 23rd, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Malcolm and most other persons associated with commenting on this story dont have all the correct information, and Mr. Harbison “did know better”, obviously, as he was never charged, never indicted, and never sought or contacted for more queries. Someone in the MPAA had incorrect information, or just weren’t as technologically advanced as they thought. this man was sequestered in his business for 12 hours as numerous agents poured over his personal and business finances looking for the “pot of gold”, either hidden very well, or non-existant, that they never found. 2 years and 1 day later the doc is around………..
June 23rd, 2007 at 5:52 pm
they did, and got away with it!
June 23rd, 2007 at 5:56 pm
this guy wasn’t even trying 2 profit. thats the kicker. they found 3 copies of movies that were already available at movie rental stores and not much else. But now he has a better job with benefits, so thanks to them he’s better off! ha!