Jari Ketola
19 Jan 2004 8:12
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that it is investigating the case of DVD screener copies sent to Academy Award members being leaked and pirated.
Four films, "Something's Gotta Give," "The Last Samurai," "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" and "thirteen" are being looked into. According to studio sources the leaked movies have been traced to actor Carmine Caridi. Caridi is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the institution that hands out the Oscar awards.
FBI has only confirmed that they are looking into the case, but has not disclosed further details.
MPAA has wanted to ban screeners altogether, but later agreed to lift the ban on Oscar screeners, but maintained the ban on other awards. After being sued over the ban, a federal court ruled in December that MPAA cannot stop its members from distributing screener copies. Later MPAA announced it would appeal the ruling.
Source: CNN.com