Savannah used our news submit to tell us that Universal's latest film 'The Hulk' has become available on the Internet, two weeks before its theatrical release. This is not the first time a movie is available online before running in the theatres but this time Universal took some drastic measurements.
The company initiated an immediate investigation and then referred the matter to the FBI, who took immediate action on the matter. Today, Kerry Gonzalez, the individual who posted 'The Hulk' on the Internet, pled guilty to felony copyright infringement and faces a sentence of up to three years in federal prison:
"This investigation proves decisively that the Internet is not an anonymous place, and illegal conduct is transparent and traceable. Universal Studios will pursue aggressively and hold accountable to the fullest extent of the law those who steal or abuse its intellectual property by illegally uploading or downloading it on the Internet." Rick Finkelstein, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Pictures, added, "It took almost two years to complete the 'The Hulk.' Given the extraordinary level of talent, significant cost and tireless effort that went into creating this outstanding entertainment experience, we believe 'The Hulk' and all of our films deserve to be enjoyed in their optimal form and environment. Unfortunately, there is a small group of people who feel it is acceptable to steal our copyrighted films and make them available for free. |
Source: Yahoo! Finance
