Woman allegedly caught filming in cinema

A woman may face charges for attempting to film a movie with a video camera in a Christchurch cinema.

The New Zealand Federation Against Copyright (NZFACT) said today staff at a Hoyts cinema reported seeing a woman allegedly recording a movie trailer ahead of the screening of the smash hit animated film Cars.

NZFACT executive director Tony Eaton said staff members contacted management and the woman, who was sitting with her family, was approached and her camcorder seized.

Mr Eaton said he believed that the woman - who was allegedly filming an anti-piracy message - was planning to record the feature film for piracy purposes.

He said movie pirates made thousands of dollars a week selling DVD copies at markets stalls.

The woman has not yet been formally charged, but Mr Eaton said the details were being gathered and a formal complaint to police would be made.

Under the Copyright Act the woman could face up to five years in prison, or a fine of between $10,000 and $150,000, if convicted.

Mr Eaton said no one has been charged in New Zealand for recording screenings, but police were investigating a similar case in a South Island town.

"At the moment we are looking at the bigger picture, our first profile was to police the markets, but now we are looking at commercial operations."

Last month John Houston, 42, admitted to 21 charges of copyright theft for illegally copying and selling more than 400 DVD movie titles.

NZFACT said it was the largest and most significant prosecution in the country.

He is due to be sentenced at Manukau District Court on August 25.

Mr Eaton said he had hired an internet investigator to look at movies downloaded and streamed into NZ.

NZFACT also has 10 private investigators in the country.

- NZPA