Senate Legislation to Make Pirating Films a Felony

by News Editor
Published on Nov 13, 2003 12:00 AM



A bipartisan Senate duo, Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced legislation yesterday that makes it a felony to use a camcorder to record the theatrical presentation of motion pictures. Language in The Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act, will also make it easier to prosecute people who illegally distribute copyrighted material before its legitimate release.

Feinstein, who recently endorsed Senator John Kerry's, D-MA., presidential bid, called the legislation an attempt to address the problems created by piracy. Cornyn said, ''Copyright piracy is a serious threat not only to the entertainment industry but also to a U.S. economy struggling to get back on its feet.''

The Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention Act, joins a bill recently sponsored by Congressmen John Conyers, D-Mich., and Howard Berman, D-Calif. The representative's legislation is an attempt to make camcording movies a federal offense.