MPAA reveals plans to jail its best customers

Filed in archive Announcements on November 25, 2005

Just before Thanksgiving, I wrote a post called MPAA: 'This week we created a great plan, next week we allocate resources to revise the plan'. I came across another MPAA story from earlier in the month at IP democracy entitled Grandfather Sued for Grandson's Movie Downloads.

(excerpts from the IP Democracy post)

... MPAA has filed suit against a 67 year-old grandfather whose grandson downloaded four unauthorized films from the web. The MPAA [is] seeking as much as $600,000 in damages for [the] four movies ... three of which the family already owned on DVD.

Hollywood filed suit after Lawrence, who had no knowledge of his 12 year-old grandson's activities, couldn't afford to pay the $4,000 settlement fee the MPAA sought.

"I can see where they wouldn't want this to happen, but when you get up around $4,000 ... I don't have that kind of money," Lawrence said. "I never was and never will be a wealthy person."

If Lawrence couldn't afford to pay the $4,000, I wonder how MPAA plans to collect its $600,000 if it wins the case. No matter. There are plenty more elderly people, not to mention widows and orphans, for Hollywood to sue.