Busted! Critic caught selling screeners to warez groups

nailzer used our news submit to tell us: "Play with fire and you take the chance of getting
burned."

Paul Sherman, a freelancer who will never, ever get another screener in the mail. Paul, your name is mud. Variety reported this morning that Sherman has been busted for selling over 100 screeners to warez groups, organizations that distribute software (and, obviously, movies) for download.

I've never really had much use for movie critics anyway.
Seems like they forget that the real purpose of a movie is escapism for the
viewer and simply a means of entertainment. They get jaded it seems over time
and feel as though a movie has to have an important message or serve some earth
shattering purpose. I prefer to use the Internet sites such as IMDB that allows
"real people" to write in and give their thoughts.

At any rate, this particular critic must not have known of watermarking
techniques that are now used on screeners, that can indicate who's screener was
leaked. In all, Sherman offloaded 117 screeners to warez groups etc., then
pocketed just over four thousand dollars for his efforts. Now, he faces a quarter million in fines and a few years in the slammer.
We can rest assured, this boy will be run through the wringer as an example to
others that betray the trust of Hollywood!

Source: Cinematical