The World's Most Lovable Video Bootlegger

It's final exam week at UConn.  That means that beginning this week, posts will become intermittent through the summer. Luckily, there is some "good" news this week allowing the Legal Studies Classroom Blog to go into summer mode on a high note.

You've got to love the NY Times article about 92-year-old Hyman "Big Hy" Strachman of Massapequa, NY.  The WW II vet spends his days ripping bootleg DVDs of first run movies which he sends free of charge to the troops in Afghanistan. According to the article, Big Hy has spent about $30,000 over the last 8 years sending the discs to military chaplains - because he knows they will give away the discs instead of selling them.

Does Big Hy know about copyright law?

“It’s not the right thing to do, but I did it,” Mr. Strachman said, acknowledging that his actions violated copyright law. “If I were younger,” he added, “maybe I’d be spending time in the hoosegow.”

What does the movie industry think of all this?

Howard Gantman, a spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America, said he did not believe its member studios were aware of Mr. Strachman’s operation. His sole comment dripped with the difficulty of going after a 92-year-old widower supporting the troops.

“We are grateful that the entertainment we produce can bring some enjoyment to them while they are away from home,” Mr. Gantman said.

Source of image: http://www.ibtimes.com/hyman-strachman-good-guy-pirate-92-year-old-wwii-vet-sends-bootlegged-dvds-troops-abroad-693550