LAWFUEL – Law News Network – A woman who was caught using a camcorder to record the movie Mission Impossible III at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood pleaded guilty today to a federal charge of copyright infringement.
Renee Stewart Maltz, 48, of Bel Air, pleaded guilty this afternoon before United States District Magistrate Judge Ralph Zarefsky.
According to a plea agreement filed in this case, on May 6, 2006, theater employees witnessed Maltz operating a camcorder during an evening showing of the movie, which had been released into theaters the day before. Employees summoned Los Angeles Police officers, who detained Maltz. The camcorder was seized by LAPD and searched by federal authorities, who found that approximately 7 minutes of the movie was recorded to memory.
Maltz faces a maximum possible sentence of one year in federal prison when she is sentenced by Judge Zarefsky on February 22.
The case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department.
CONTACT: Assistant United States Attorney Elena J. Duarte
Chief, Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section
(213) 894-8611
Release No. 06-170
