Quakester2000 reports us that CDs,
DVDs and video games in the US are to get an FBI warning seal. The seal will warn consumers that criminal
copyright infringement of the product could land them with a US$ 250,000 fine
and five years in prison. According to the FBI, piracy is now its third biggest
priority behind terrorism and counter-intelligence:
 "The theft of copyrighted material has grown substantially and
has had a detrimental impact on the US economy, said the assistant
director of the FBI's cyber division, Jana Monroe. The FBI said it was up
to individual companies whether the label appeared on the packaging, or on
screen.
The full warning reads: "The unauthorised
reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal
copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is
investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal
prison and a fine of $ 250,000."
 The label has the backing of the Recording Industry Association
of America (RIAA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and
two groups representing the software industry, the Entertainment Software
Association and the Software and Information Industry Association.
RIAA executive vide president Brad
Buckles said: "As the seal attests, these are serious crimes with serious
consequences - including federal prosecution - to making unauthorised
copies or uploading music without permission, and consumers should be
aware of them." |
According to MPAA senior vice president Ken
Jacobsen the film industry was losing a whopping US$ 3,500,000,000 (yes that's 3,5
billion) each year through piracy, before copying via the internet was taken
into account. Well it's good to know that the FBI is doing their very best to
warn the consumers...
Source: BBC NEWS
