With bright smiles on their faces, the Entertainment Software Association happily reported that a California game pirate was given a jail sentence of one year followed by five years of probation. If that’s not enough, the pirate also has to pay a $100,000 fine and a restitution payment to the ESA of more than $10,000.
I think that’s the ESA’s way of saying, "Don’t mess with us." The arrest occurred in June when police stormed Vista, California native Frederick Brown’s house after receiving a tip. A search thereafter revealed hundreds of illegal game discs. He was found guilty to two felony counts of trafficking in counterfeit products on August 1st.
Ric Hirsc, ESA’s senior vice president for intellectual property enforcement, said, "We commend the work of the San Diego CATCH team and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Sentences that include a jail time send a clear message that violating intellectual property rights is a serious crime with significant consequences and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Youch. Jail-time, probation and two hefty fines is nothing to shake a stick at. The ESA is hell-bent on stopping piracy, but do you think the punishments are a little much?
