Teen Faces Jail Time for 20-Second 'Transformers' Recording
Jhannet Sejas, a 19-year-old from Arlington, Virginia, did something she had no idea would get her in big trouble. When the ending for 'Transformers' was spinning up to its highest point, she took out her cell phone and recorded 20 seconds' of the movie which, according to Sejas, was to show to her little brother. Soon after, she was greeted by police, who promptly confiscated her phone. Sejas was charged with a misdemeanor crime and was banned for life from the theater. Even worse, the theater is looking to fully prosecute the case, which could result in a $2,500 fine and a year in prison for Ms. Sejas.
It's unlikely Sejas will see the full punishment as, by all accounts, this was a fairly innocent transgression. But stranger things have happened when it comes to the RIAA and MPAA protecting their copyrights.
From nbc4.com
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David @ Aug 3rd 2007 1:55PM
Of course, if Miss Sejas were an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT or a DRUG USER, she could sue for her "rights."
Mark @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:21PM
That is pure and simple theft. Too much of it goes on in America and it is wrong. Illegally recording of movies. Illegally downloading of music. Theft of ideas (those patented or copyrighted). Plagarism. All is this theft pure and simple and should be prosecuted and punished, regardless.
Trevor @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:41PM
I agree with the fact that plagiarism should not be tolerated. Especially with bootleg copies of movies and CDs, when people attempt to turn a profit from something that they did not have a hand in creating. However, I firmly believe that the case of Jhannet Sejas is a little too intense. She innocently recorded twenty seconds of a film to show to her little brother and she faces a potential fine and a year in prison? Even if she was lying about recording it to show to her brother, it still is only twenty seconds of the film and I think that if she were attempting to plagiarize, she would have tried to record more than twenty seconds of the climactic final scene. I think that Jhannet is the unfortunate recipient of the ire of the theater for not being able to catch other people who plagiarize worse.
jim @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:44PM
Serves her right. Theft is theft. Make an
example out her by prosecution and maybe the
next person may think twice before doing it.
jeff @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:10PM
Do you hear yourselves. "serves her right"? Wow!A simple 20 second recording for her brother does not warrant jailing a young girl. Trying to make her an example is disgusting. Why not just stone her and get it over with.This is an embarrasment to our country.
Dan @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:29PM
what the f-ck has happen to our country? this is bull shit sure plagerism should be dealt with but for worse than a 20 sec clip of a video bull shi- if ya ask me. if they're going after her for this why not go after outube users for posting longer clips? damn commies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Dfac9YoJI&mode=related&search=
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=214571187
Jen @ Aug 4th 2007 12:48AM
I agree 20 seconds so what she paid $9.00 to see that movie what the hell is 20 seconds. We worry about 20 seconds of a stupid movie when there's real crime out there. You know corrupt cops a president thats a murderer terrorists etc... Make the girl erase the damn clip and get a fuc!#$g life.
Rogg @ Oct 5th 2007 2:42PM
Plagiarize
transitive verb : to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source
intransitive verb : to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source
If you're going to use the big words, know what they mean
M. @ Oct 6th 2007 7:23PM
Ok, here's what we'll do, we'll have someone hold her down and have someone else beat the crub out of her until she's bloody and begging for mercy. Then we'll break the cell phone over her head and use the broken pieces to carve THIEF on her face for life! That'll be a stern lesson to everyone who copies music or shares it with anyone else and all those thieves out there who record their favorite songs on the Radio. Better yet, let's shut DOWN the radio stations or force them to never play music again! That way NO ONE can steal it. And to all those thieves and monsters out there who might accidently record part of a movie promo while taping the game. No more movie promos, ok? That allows thieves to have the music. Oh God, thieves everywhere doing this! Let's start a killing spree and take them ALL out!
You've just read a rant of sheer sarcasm! The RIAA and the Movie industry are going too far and paying off lawmakers millions to force the lawmakers to do what they want them to do. Isn't it obvious?
beepoff @ Oct 17th 2007 9:42AM
OMG! she recorded a whole 20 seconds of the movie. does anyone realize that a movie trailer has more than 20 seconds in it? why isn't that illegal? are they going to censor my tv now? or wait, they already do... besides, i can get 30 seconds of nearly any song from Amazon.com ... now who's the thief?
i better bolt my door and wait for the RIAA...