Man admits he posted pirated ‘Star Wars’ film on Web

A man admitted in court today that he uploaded a copy of “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” onto the Internet the night before the film’s worldwide theatrical release.

Huntington Beach resident Marc Hoaglin, 36, pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to uploading a copyrighted work being prepared for commercial distribution — a violation of a law enacted this year that makes such conduct a federal felony.

The plea deal means he faces a sentence ranging from probation to six months behind bars.

U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie set a March 6 sentencing date.

Hoaglin was one of eight people allegedly involved in passing along the stolen copy of the film that he acknowledges in his plea agreement he posted on a Web site.

According to prosecutors, the source of the pirated copy was a post-production facility where a worker took home a copy.

While Hoaglin was charged with a felony, the other defendants in the case were charged with a misdemeanor charge of willfully infringing on a copyright.

Source: Daily Breeze