Pirate Website Operator Convicted by Federal Jury

WASHINGTON D.C., June 30:
Daniel Dave, who operated the peer-to-peer-based website EliteTorrents.org,
which allowed users to download illegal pre-release copies of movies, has been
convicted of conspiracy and felony copyright infringement by a federal jury.

Dan Glickman, the chairman
and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), hailing the move,
commented: “This conviction—the eighth of which resulted from a
nationwide federal crackdown on the illegal distribution of copyrighted content
over P2P networks—sends a clear message that when presented with
clear-cut evidence, jurors have little tolerance for the willful, deliberate,
and widespread distribution of protected content. The MPAA commends the federal
jury in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, for their thoughtful deliberations in this
case and for valuing the protection of intellectual property in the United
States.”

—By Mansha Daswani