Star Wars thieves arrested, This is interesting. Options

[*mipadi*]

"Earlier this year, an advance copy of 'Star Wars: Episode III' was released to the Internet a day before the film's official worldwide opening. Yesterday, the US Attorney handed down charges to the eight people believed responsible. Using forensic markers embedded in the advance-release "screeners," law enforcement were able to track down the leaked copy and the people who came in contact with it. As a result of the early release, Episode III only managed to earn $380 million at the box office." [1]

I thought this would be a civil case, not a criminal case, but apparently these 8 individuals have violated some criminal law.

[*mipadi*]

It's not so much the monetary amount that interests me; that was just thrown in by the Slashdot poster for the sensationalist effect. I think it's more the issue of arresting someone--and throwing them in jail for three years--for distributing a film, when distributing the film most likely did not have a serious impact on the box office returns anyway.