Harsh Penalties For Warez, Especially In Light of Pro-IP Act
Warez is a term internet users created that refers to illegally downloaded copyrighted works. It likely originated from the plural of “software” as such groups often use specialized computer programs and servers to transfer large amounts of data, such a music and digital films.
Illegal downloading is a serious crime in the United States. In fact, I discussed the harsher penalties recently imposed by President Bush in the Pro-IP Act of 2008.
A Federal Court of Appeals recently upheld a 30-month sentence for downloading copyrighted works through a warez group. The defendant was guilty of illegally downloading films and music from the Czech Republic.
In this case, the defendant was indicted under a Federal statute for willful copyright infringement by reproducing or distributing during a 180-day period at least ten copies of one or more copyrighted works with a retail value of more than $2500. Even though the defendant had no criminal record and did not benefit financially from the activity, a federal judge determined that the prison sentence was reasonable.
All things considered, it is a good idea to be aware of the downloading activities on your computers or networks. According to federal law, many people may qualify for harsh penalties, including some very hard time.
