Louisiana man sentenced to one year for piracy

Louisiana man sentenced to one year for piracy
A Louisiana man has been sentenced to one year in prison by a federal judge today for pirating thousands of DVDs and CDs in his apartment.

Although the case was pretty cut and dry, (he was caught trying to sell them) there was something more notable to be taken from the case, that of the MPAA's valuation of the pirated discs, which has slowly fallen from $3200 per disc in 2006, to a current $14 per disc.



In the case of Tanner Hills, the MPAA concluded that the 2,896 counterfeited discs seized from his apartment were worth the equivalent of $39,791, for an average of about $13.47 USD for every CD or DVD.

Although you may be saying to yourself, "WOW that's a large number for old CDs or DVDs!", the value of pirated movies has actually fallen substantially since 2006 when the MPAA seized 6,200 pirated discs in Hong Kong and valued them at $20 million USD, for the astounding value of $3,225.80 each. Last year the MPAA seized 200,000 DVDs in an Australian sting and valued it at $16.6 million, meaning each movie was worth $83 USD.

With values falling from "MPAA experts", how can the group continue to claim that the industry loses "$18 billion annually as a result of movie theft"?

The official court record can be found here: Tanner Hills court file

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 23 Aug 2008 20:52
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  • 30 comments
  • DXR88

    We all Know about the corruption its as plan as a blood covered snowman,with a florescent orange vest, and blinking green sign saying corruption is here.

    The US is payed off bye these crooks every year, the government doesn't give a rats ass about morals as long as they get there cut of the pie.

    23.8.2008 21:02 #1

  • chaos_zzz

    piracy loss numbers are always fake

    23.8.2008 21:14 #2

  • CF01

    im assuming he was selling them i mean who has that many cd's or dvds thats insane

    23.8.2008 21:14 #3

  • OneMember

    Originally posted by CF01: im assuming he was selling them i mean who has that many cd's or dvds thats insane
    I would guess the same. If not, that one year is overkill.

    23.8.2008 21:44 #4

  • hulud86

    If they were old dvds and cds he probably did sell. It would be pretty easy for them to find that out by checking his computer and paypal account or other money accounts. I'm guessing he would have a lot of supplies around his apt like packaging and shipping labels.

    23.8.2008 22:10 #5

  • Jlhfit

    Originally posted by CF01: im assuming he was selling them i mean who has that many cd's or dvds thats insaneI have nearly that many... mostly ps2 games and movies... I DONT sell them though. Everyon e is for personal use,.. but I guarantee that if I was busted with them, the news would say I was selling and make out like I have made 10's of thousands of dollars..lol.. I wish... Whats funny is I am in peoples home all the time,I have ran into several people that make a good living selling them. One time I went to this apartment and when I walked in,it looked as if I walked into a video store. The lady and her bf where selling movies by the hundreds. After I was finished doing what I was there to do, the lady asked me if I wanted to buy anything.. I laughed.. Anyway she gave me her card and on it was a "buisness" name and the prices per item. $5.00 bucks for old movies $7.00 for new releases. Anyway it was pretty funny...
    Another time I was taking a break near a store in the "hood". I stopped to watch a young guy sitting in the parking lot under a tent with a table and chair. He had a sign on the front that said "music"
    He was selling tons of Cd's of various rap artist. Well i eventually left after my break. Anyway later that evening our locals new had a story of a guy that was shot by a local rap artist bc he was selling the copies of this local artist music without consent...lol..
    Now imagine all artist and mpaa taking that kinda action agaist piracy!lol

    24.8.2008 00:16 #6

  • susieqbbb

    but look at where the guy lives.

    The guy lives in a region where they just had the largest floods the region had ever seen and the poorest of residents so you need to understand the other side of the table.

    I have a great idea lets make the mpaa as poor as some of these people and ask them to purchase dvd's and cd's at 40.00 a disk and see how they feel.

    24.8.2008 01:44 #7

  • borhan9

    The guy deserved getting caught. as for value of the $$ involved it shows you that the heat may be commin down on this sector.

    24.8.2008 02:55 #8

  • Pop_Smith

    At least it seems the MPAA is learning some logic, $13.47 is about retail which is exactly what they could count as a loss due to it being pirated instead of bought at retail.

    Now if only the RIAA could get a similar sense knocked into them...

    24.8.2008 04:32 #9

  • beanos66

    Originally posted by susieqbbb: but look at where the guy lives.

    I have a great idea lets make the mpaa as poor as some of these people and ask them to purchase dvd's and cd's at 40.00 a disk and see how they feel.
    If they did that then they would claim it back on expenses and also claim a tax rebate resulting in them making a profit from buying the disc from themselves (they could then sell the disc on the second hand market)

    24.8.2008 05:39 #10

  • ZippyDSM

    Um wait...did he sell any of this?

    24.8.2008 06:30 #11

  • B33rdrnkr

    Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Um wait...did he sell any of this?

    24.8.2008 09:35 #12

  • B33rdrnkr

    Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Um wait...did he sell any of this?
    Well it says cut and dry that they caught him doing it...

    24.8.2008 09:40 #13

  • ZippyDSM

    Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Um wait...did he sell any of this?
    Well it says cut and dry that they caught him doing it...
    ah I see it now ><

    24.8.2008 13:39 #14

  • Hyasuma

    I'm sure everyone has a burn copy of cd or dvd somewhere in their house, unless they are flat out rich and can buy every single dvds cds out there that is released. I only buy the one i like, but before i buy them i download them and if they are worth buying, then i buy. For those who is selling for their own benefits...hell, if you go to Toronto in Canada, Pacific mall, every freaking movie store in there is burn copy, counterfit. Last year i saw Transformer in Toronto for 4th of july and the next day at the mall, they have them for 5 bucks on the shelf. They just cant win them all, i tell you, ppl is going to do it, and it ant no stopping them.

    It is retarded, they charge 13-14 dollars per cd, they making more than 500% profit worth of making PER cd. LOOSING money? bull shi*, they ant losing crap, they keep saying they are losing money, but the truth is that they miss the days that counterfitting dont exist, because they get to make MORE profit out of them, thats why they are going after these ppl. f*c*ing selfish ppl. But yet, i still buy them just depends if i like them or not, and no i dont support the company, i support the artist themselves.

    24.8.2008 23:08 #15

  • slammed

    Originally posted by susieqbbb: but look at where the guy lives.

    The guy lives in a region where they just had the largest floods the region had ever seen and the poorest of residents so you need to understand the other side of the table.

    I have a great idea lets make the mpaa as poor as some of these people and ask them to purchase dvd's and cd's at 40.00 a disk and see how they feel.
    This is a very flawed view. So what you are saying is just because someone lives somewhere that is poor they get special treatment? Most of the people in La are products of a flawed government. I live in Houston we received these so called refugees by the boat load after Katrina. The hospital where i work was kind enough to donate charity meds to these people. I was there and saw the reason they are poor. They expect everything in the world for free and for the most part were the most rude ungrateful people i have ever met. They were ungrateful of everything we did and i state again i saw this personally. Its views like yours that made them this way.

    25.8.2008 00:45 #16

  • Hyasuma

    Quote:Originally posted by susieqbbb: but look at where the guy lives.

    The guy lives in a region where they just had the largest floods the region had ever seen and the poorest of residents so you need to understand the other side of the table.

    I have a great idea lets make the mpaa as poor as some of these people and ask them to purchase dvd's and cd's at 40.00 a disk and see how they feel.
    This is a very flawed view. So what you are saying is just because someone lives somewhere that is poor they get special treatment? Most of the people in La are products of a flawed government. I live in Houston we received these so called refugees by the boat load after Katrina. The hospital where i work was kind enough to donate charity meds to these people. I was there and saw the reason they are poor. They expect everything in the world for free and for the most part were the most rude ungrateful people i have ever met. They were ungrateful of everything we did and i state again i saw this personally. Its views like yours that made them this way.

    Yea, they are ungrateful of everything because maybe they are dying, they have nothing else to live for, they lost everything because of the disaster, i mean, how would you really feel if you have everything taken from you? Of course you feel like the world owe you something, why this happens to me and not others. This is the hard job for the med ppl, nurses, yes the patients are ungrateful, but you have to put yourself in their shoes first to know what they went through, why they are the way like this.

    Yes, the guy is poor and desperate to sell his dvd, cds, and for all the ppl, they need to live on and survive, and maybe he had no choice, or he just have that much bad of a luck. wouldnt u say so?

    25.8.2008 01:41 #17

  • DXR88

    Well at least he only got a year.

    Just because everything is lost, doesn't mean you have to be an ass to everyone else. You think poor people are ungrateful.

    i have a rich friend Christopher his family holds $24 million just for him but he's got everything he wants, at beck and call you name it his parents will buy it. a really Snot-Nosed Selfish little punk you've ever seen before in you life. he would make those Louisiana people look really grateful.^^

    Why is he my friend, i have no idea so don't bother asking.

    25.8.2008 03:19 #18

  • glassd

    I wish I was Poor enough to own a Merceds Benz like this Poor guy.

    25.8.2008 08:54 #19

  • spydah

    Originally posted by Hyasuma: I'm sure everyone has a burn copy of cd or dvd somewhere in their house, unless they are flat out rich and can buy every single dvds cds out there that is released. I only buy the one i like, but before i buy them i download them and if they are worth buying, then i buy. For those who is selling for their own benefits...hell, if you go to Toronto in Canada, Pacific mall, every freaking movie store in there is burn copy, counterfit. Last year i saw Transformer in Toronto for 4th of july and the next day at the mall, they have them for 5 bucks on the shelf. They just cant win them all, i tell you, ppl is going to do it, and it ant no stopping them.

    It is retarded, they charge 13-14 dollars per cd, they making more than 500% profit worth of making PER cd. LOOSING money? bull shi*, they ant losing crap, they keep saying they are losing money, but the truth is that they miss the days that counterfitting dont exist, because they get to make MORE profit out of them, thats why they are going after these ppl. f*c*ing selfish ppl. But yet, i still buy them just depends if i like them or not, and no i dont support the company, i support the artist themselves.


    I wanted to add to what you said. People were "burning" stuff back when VCR's and Tape decks were the shiznit. They didn't care then so why is it now that this is a major issue. I remember going to almost any of my family and friends and even friends of friends homes. All of those places had plenty of VCR tapes with either their movies, tv shows, music videos, and cassettes with radio recordings and so forth. They never lose money in this. If anything, this is what they should consider as advertisement. "Piracy" is the reason for artist music making it to area's that it would have never been heard. This also applies to movies. I see this whole "Piracy" issue has an, political attempt to win over other rich people. We all know that, most rich people only care about either protecting their money or making more. That's the bottom line with these kinds of issues. This guy is more or less an example.

    25.8.2008 09:46 #20

  • Hyasuma

    Originally posted by DXR88: Well at least he only got a year.

    Just because everything is lost, doesn't mean you have to be an ass to everyone else. You think poor people are ungrateful.

    i have a rich friend Christopher his family holds $24 million just for him but he's got everything he wants, at beck and call you name it his parents will buy it. a really Snot-Nosed Selfish little punk you've ever seen before in you life. he would make those Louisiana people look really grateful.^^

    Why is he my friend, i have no idea so don't bother asking.
    Yea, i know that you shouldnt be an ass to everyone because you lost everything or be rude. Thats not what I'm saying, I'm saying that to these type of people, we have to ignore the fact that they lost everything and how they treat you, yet we have to understand what they are going through, i'm sure you feel like this if your love one dies or you are bank rubbed. After all we can only do so much for them. I'm just trying to say, if you lost everything, you would act just the same, because this is simple psychology, everything you worked for, you loved has been lost. This is how they will act until they find meaning to survive again, or grow up. Like you said some people who has everything all the money in the world, dont do nothing, and yet they still treat people like they are the shi*. Is just cocky. Those people just not as gratful for what they got untile they get to taste their own medecine on what people lives on.

    25.8.2008 10:47 #21

  • slammed

    Ok then so why when i went to visit friends in Mississippi shortly after Katrina. Now remember Katrina didnt actually hit New Orleans.It looked like a bomb had destroyed everything for miles. Peoples houses flattened everything they had ever had or worked for gone. Then why did they not act like the ungrateful New Orleans people? The people there where grateful for any little bit i did to help. Dont talk on these subjects unless you live here or actually know whats going on. Most of the people still in New Orleans at the time of Katrina where trash straight and simple. Its unfortunate that there may have been some good people there but if there was they where vastly outnumbered. I saw these people first hand take Fema checks and buy fur coats and jewelry. So you tell me why i should feel sorrow for them?

    25.8.2008 11:31 #22

  • DXR88

    Originally posted by slammed: Ok then so why when i went to visit friends in Mississippi shortly after Katrina. Now remember Katrina didnt actually hit New Orleans.It looked like a bomb had destroyed everything for miles. Peoples houses flattened everything they had ever had or worked for gone. Then why did they not act like the ungrateful New Orleans people? The people there where grateful for any little bit i did to help. Dont talk on these subjects unless you live here or actually know whats going on. Most of the people still in New Orleans at the time of Katrina where trash straight and simple. Its unfortunate that there may have been some good people there but if there was they where vastly outnumbered. I saw these people first hand take Fema checks and buy fur coats and jewelry. So you tell me why i should feel sorrow for them?Fema doesn't hand out normal checks, they hand out the same type of checks the insurance company gives out, stating the check can only be used to repair damages done on one's house or vehicle. i know because we got multiable checks from fema one for are roof that was ripped off
    on for my jeep that was smashed by a tree (i cried for weeks not every day you find a CJ Jeep lying around)and one for are wooden privacy fence.

    if you use them for anything else is fraud, and you can be fined with jail time.

    25.8.2008 13:16 #23

  • Hyasuma

    Originally posted by slammed: Ok then so why when i went to visit friends in Mississippi shortly after Katrina. Now remember Katrina didnt actually hit New Orleans.It looked like a bomb had destroyed everything for miles. Peoples houses flattened everything they had ever had or worked for gone. Then why did they not act like the ungrateful New Orleans people? The people there where grateful for any little bit i did to help. Dont talk on these subjects unless you live here or actually know whats going on. Most of the people still in New Orleans at the time of Katrina where trash straight and simple. Its unfortunate that there may have been some good people there but if there was they where vastly outnumbered. I saw these people first hand take Fema checks and buy fur coats and jewelry. So you tell me why i should feel sorrow for them?Why you should feel sorry for them? You dont have to, I'm not telling you you have to, but these are the ppl who is going to rebuild New Orleand, just think about the All Star games, they are great to rebuild, they have the spirit, they are not giving up, I admire them really that they have this kind of spirit. WHY THE DONT ACT LIKE THE UNGRATFUL PPL you said, why do they have to? They know better, they know things will come around, but for those people who just gives up and trying to make benefit out of things that they should not have, they are the people thats a ungratful. If you are one of the New Oreleans, how would you rather act? Yea, i dont live there, i dont benefit myself for things i shouldnt have, but i do know that, if you dont give up, and accept the way that life is, things eventually turn out. I know what i'm talking about, i dont have to expreinece to know it, i have tons of my friends who went through struggle, still are, and i can imagine what it is to be like them, life is not that easy, but peopel take it for granted. You dont know what had happend 100% exactly to the New Oreleans, why they act this way, and yet you only look at the skin of what they done, using the money on faulty things, are you sure they are the one who get those money or are they rich to begin with? Maybe they have savings, maybe their friends help them out, how are u so sure they use those money?

    Why do they have to ungratful when they dont have to? Life is life, it moves on, there is nothing we can do about natural disaster but to help and make it better by moving forward, there is no need to be ungratful. These ppl knows better than some, they just going to take it as it is.

    25.8.2008 15:38 #24

  • slammed

    They werent given Fema checks they were given fema debit cards in the amount of $2000. I dont know about how much or what assistance they get or got when they returned(although from friends who live in new orleans many havent gone back). My statement to begin with was just because someone is poor or from a poor part of the country. Does not mean they should be treated any differently. When i was growing up my mom was raising me and brother alone on minimum wage. I know what broke is i know what its like to have very little. But i dont expect things and appreciated every little insignifigant thing i got. Just for sake of fun new orleans people arent rebuilding it mexican day laborers are. lol

    25.8.2008 19:13 #25

  • Hyasuma

    lol, yea, i meant the spirit of New orleans...not the actual ppl who is rebuilding it. Heck, they find the cheapest labor they can find!

    Your right, they dont get treated any differently, i understand where you are coming from. Is the fact how we react towards them when they are ungratful towards us, we just shouldnt take it personally but look at it differently if u know what i mean.

    25.8.2008 23:10 #26

  • jchien

    Originally posted by Hyasuma: I'm sure everyone has a burn copy of cd or dvd somewhere in their house, unless they are flat out rich and can buy every single dvds cds out there that is released. I only buy the one i like, but before i buy them i download them and if they are worth buying, then i buy. For those who is selling for their own benefits...hell, if you go to Toronto in Canada, Pacific mall, every freaking movie store in there is burn copy, counterfit. Last year i saw Transformer in Toronto for 4th of july and the next day at the mall, they have them for 5 bucks on the shelf. They just cant win them all, i tell you, ppl is going to do it, and it ant no stopping them.

    It is retarded, they charge 13-14 dollars per cd, they making more than 500% profit worth of making PER cd. LOOSING money? bull shi*, they ant losing crap, they keep saying they are losing money, but the truth is that they miss the days that counterfitting dont exist, because they get to make MORE profit out of them, thats why they are going after these ppl. f*c*ing selfish ppl. But yet, i still buy them just depends if i like them or not, and no i dont support the company, i support the artist themselves.
    I have been in various bands and let me tell you, the band makes about 9-13% for their merch they sell (t-shirts, CD's, etc) The label gets the rest of the 91-87%. Bands are poor. That's all there is to it. So, what do you do? Go to shows and buy merch there. The band gets all the profit and it helps them tour, which brings them money, which helps thme record another album. The labels are the ones to blame. Also, major labels force bands who sign to them to sell all their music to the label, which means that the label has the copyright and essentially owns all the bands music. Labels screw bands.

    26.8.2008 10:07 #27

  • DXR88

    What if Pirates cut bands a deal of 50% of every counter fit sell, still making more than what the labels want to pay you.

    26.8.2008 12:52 #28

  • Hyasuma

    Quote:Originally posted by Hyasuma: I'm sure everyone has a burn copy of cd or dvd somewhere in their house, unless they are flat out rich and can buy every single dvds cds out there that is released. I only buy the one i like, but before i buy them i download them and if they are worth buying, then i buy. For those who is selling for their own benefits...hell, if you go to Toronto in Canada, Pacific mall, every freaking movie store in there is burn copy, counterfit. Last year i saw Transformer in Toronto for 4th of july and the next day at the mall, they have them for 5 bucks on the shelf. They just cant win them all, i tell you, ppl is going to do it, and it ant no stopping them.

    It is retarded, they charge 13-14 dollars per cd, they making more than 500% profit worth of making PER cd. LOOSING money? bull shi*, they ant losing crap, they keep saying they are losing money, but the truth is that they miss the days that counterfitting dont exist, because they get to make MORE profit out of them, thats why they are going after these ppl. f*c*ing selfish ppl. But yet, i still buy them just depends if i like them or not, and no i dont support the company, i support the artist themselves.
    I have been in various bands and let me tell you, the band makes about 9-13% for their merch they sell (t-shirts, CD's, etc) The label gets the rest of the 91-87%. Bands are poor. That's all there is to it. So, what do you do? Go to shows and buy merch there. The band gets all the profit and it helps them tour, which brings them money, which helps thme record another album. The labels are the ones to blame. Also, major labels force bands who sign to them to sell all their music to the label, which means that the label has the copyright and essentially owns all the bands music. Labels screw bands.
    I really meant to say i support the artist, but not the company, yes i'm buying their cds and all that, but i got no choice if i want to purchase them do i? yes, i know band or artist dont make as much, but it all depends on how popular they are, the more popular they are the more money they make, and not only the company makes the money, they make money also. Is all a trade, you want to be famous, this is the trade we have to do, i keep this much, u get this much. If bands decides to do so, thats their problem, and they will make money other ways, advertising, tours, or selling their own bubble heads or something. They have more money than you think.

    26.8.2008 13:40 #29

  • supersoad

    bummer for that dude

    26.8.2008 19:34 #30

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