<i>These IMAGiNE members were charged with several counts of criminal copyright infringement and they eventually received prison sentences ranging from 23 months in prison up to five years". ... "</i><p><i>“... he mentions that in his opinion the case should have been a civil one, and he doesn’t see why copyright infringement is a federal offense."</i><p>Can anyone elaborate <i>why</i> is it a Federal crime, like say kidnapping or bankrobbing?
I can't imagine anyone going to jail so long for a non-violent crime.... though it's hard to understand where the limit is. I'd also like to see some people thrown in jail for other non-violent crimes.<p>Punishment seems hard to get right.
Frankly I think he just sounds like the bitter old man he is. At least the TPB guys are idealistic in a cute way, but Cherwonik just seems self-entitled and grumpy.<p>I might add that the continuous allegations of bribery and corruptness does not really help his case.
In for a penny, in for a pound.<p>I wonder if he would had made any money from this, a better lawyer would had better represented him in court, and thus serve a lesser sentence. That is, even while facing more serious charges.
I don't understand why criminal copyright infringement exists. If there is no copyright holder to sue, then by all logic the works should be in the public domain, thus no copyright to begin with.