AfterDawn: News

'Slumdog Millionaire' uploader pleads guilty

Owen Moody of California has pleaded guilty to one felony count of uploading a pirated film to the Internet, the blockbuster Slumdog Millionaire last year.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa E. Feldman, Moody admitted to uploading the film to the infamous torrent tracker The Pirate Bay, as well as Demonoid and Mininova.



The copy uploaded, a DVD Screener meant for Academy members, was available months before the film was released on DVD and was uploaded while the film was still in a limited run in the United States.

Moody, under the monicker "Tranceyo," says he found the copy on funfile.org and then uploaded the file to the public trackers.

For his plea, Moody faces a "statutory maximum penalty of three years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or gross loss attributable to the offense, whichever is greater," according to 10News.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 Jul 2009 1:14

• Previous article

• 'Band Hero' headed to Nintendo DS with drum

• Next article

• Disney Japan to offer movies on microSD cards

• 11 comments

• Mysttic

  Sad that even pleasing guilty doesn't lead to a lesser sentencing. Now he's up there with the likes of murderers and rapists.

  24.7.2009 01:21 #1

• iamgq

  I would only feel bad for him if he had done it after the movie was released.

  24.7.2009 01:33 #2

• windsong

  Cue "Dont copy that floppy!"

  24.7.2009 03:26 #3

• Pop_Smith

  I find it interesting that it is a felony (not sure which degree, but it is still a felony) to upload a pirated film.
  
  It's probably for deterrent reasons more than anything but come on, felonies should be reserved for the people that commit murder, rape, robbery, car jackings, etc. not just uploading a movie.
  
  If the guy was mass reproducing and selling the movie then yes, I could see a felony come out of that but the guy probably didn't earn a cent off the upload. I'd say a Class A Misdemeanor, which I can include 9 months in jail and up to $10,000 in fines, should be suffice.

  24.7.2009 03:39 #4

• cart0181

  Originally posted by windsong: Cue "Dont copy that floppy!"ROFL! I almost forgot about that one.
  
  @Mysttic - the article simply stated the standard felony charge, in reality, he will get a much reduced sentence since he plead guilty.

  24.7.2009 03:42 #5

• kirkwood

  Much to do about nothing. The fine should be no higher then a speeding ticket, and he did not endanger any lives. The system is a bad joke.

  24.7.2009 07:14 #6

• emugamer

  Originally posted by Mysttic: Sad that even pleasing guilty doesn't lead to a lesser sentencing. Now he's up there with the likes of murderers and rapists.I sure hope murderers are getting more than 1-3 years and a $250,000 fine.

  24.7.2009 07:57 #7

• BTFan

  A 'class A misdemeanor' is more than enough. Too much more than enough. People hitting others for being Black get 6 months in prison, so should uploading a movie without getting a profit be worth 9 months AND $250000?

  24.7.2009 11:45 #8

• Mysttic

  Emugamer - All I said was that it's a felony and therefor being labeled as the same type of class. Technically he could get put in a max pen prison if the judge felt like it; but yea cart0181 stated, his sentence would likely be reduced.
  
  Still it doesn't change the fact that once the charge is there, you are a felon regardless because that is what the law dictates, which is the sad part. I stand corrected in my first statement, as I read the article wrong, here's to hoping he does get a lesser sentencing and if not, here's to hoping he has the brains to appeal.

  24.7.2009 12:49 #9

• emugamer

  Originally posted by Mysttic: Emugamer - All I said was that it's a felony and therefor being labeled as the same type of class. Technically he could get put in a max pen prison if the judge felt like it; but yea cart0181 stated, his sentence would likely be reduced.
  
  Still it doesn't change the fact that once the charge is there, you are a felon regardless because that is what the law dictates, which is the sad part. I stand corrected in my first statement, as I read the article wrong, here's to hoping he does get a lesser sentencing and if not, here's to hoping he has the brains to appeal.I totally agree. Regardless of what type of felon, the guy is still a felon under the law now. It's a shame really.

  24.7.2009 13:58 #10

• Interestx

  Another lunatic & laughably outrageous excessive (ab)use of the law, fighting the little people and rushing to comfort and support one of the already most wealthy industries on the planet.
  
  The world has indeed gone mad.

  24.7.2009 18:45 #11