Eight charged in theft of “Star Wars” movie

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Federal officials on Tuesday
charged eight people with several crimes related to the illegal
theft, copying and Internet distribution of hit movie, “Star
Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith.”

The movie, which was the final installment made in the
lucrative series of “Star Wars” films by director George Lucas,
debuted in theaters worldwide to huge media fanfare in May.

But before it ever opened, an illegally made copy could be
downloaded from the Internet, and that copy was traced back to
an editing facility in Lakewood, California.

The charges come as moviemakers wage a battle against
illegally copying and distributing movies on video, DVD and the
Internet. Hollywood’s studios claim they lose $3.5 billion in
annual revenue due to piracy and are worried about losing
billions more if swapping films on the Web becomes common.

The U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles filed a copyright
infringement charge against Albert Valente, 28, of Lakewood,
California, for taking the “Star Wars” copy from the
post-production house where he worked. He has pleaded guilty,
the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a statement.

Six others were charged with copyright infringement and
other misdemeanors for copying and distributing the “Star Wars”
film that Valente took.

One defendant, Marc Hoaglin, 36, of Huntington Beach,
California, was charged with a felony for putting the movie on
the Web where it could be downloaded by anybody. Hoaglin could
face up to as much as three years in jail.

Separately, the U.S. Attorney also charged Ronald Redding,
37, of Linthicum Heights, Maryland, with misdemeanor copyright
infringement for giving away his “screener” copy of “Million
Dollar Baby,” which was sent to him for Academy Awards voting.
He agreed to plead guilty, the U.S. Attorney said.

Finally, Eric Wright, 43, of Bellflower, California, has
pleaded guilty to one count in trafficking in counterfeit DVD
labels for films such as “The Incredibles” and “Friday Night
Lights.” He faces up to five years in a federal prison.