![Regal Cinemas][1]Free Culture.org is [joining the call][2] for a chain wide boycott of Regal Cinemas over their draconian punishment of a 19 year-old girl caught taping 20 seconds of the Transformers film.** We demand that Regal Cinemas drop all charges against Jhannet Sejas, and that the entertainment group issue a full apology to the teen.**
From [a recent Washington Post article][3] on Jhannet's arrest: > "I was terrified," said Sejas, her voice breaking. "I was crying. I've never been in trouble before." She said the assistant manager of the theater saw her holding up the [Canon Power Shot][4] and reported it to the general manager, who called police. > > Sejas said she had no intention of selling the 20-second film clip. She just wanted to show it to her 13-year-old brother, who had said he wanted to see the movie. She was shocked when the officers showed up. > > Sejas faces up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 when she goes to trial this month in the July 17 incident. [Arlington][5] police spokesman [John Lisle][6] said it was the decision of Regal Cinemas Ballston Common 12 to prosecute the case, a first for Arlington police. While the question of whether or not Jhannet's Transformers clip counts as [fair use][7] (it is our opinion that it does, as it is private, non- commercial use of an unsubstantial portion of the original), there is another question we should be asking, and that is whether or not we should be patronizing a corporation that insists on pressing charges against someone who is clearly not the intended target of anti-piracy laws. Regal Cinemas should be ashamed of itself and its silly zero- tolerance policy. [Click here to Digg the story and help publicize our Boycott!][8] [(more…)][9] [1]: http://images.fandango.com//images/theaterlogos/tsp_regal.gif (Regal Cinemas) [2]: http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/08/02/boycott-regal-cinemas-teen- arrested-for-recording-20-second-movie-clip/ (Slash film Boycott) [3]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080102398.html [4]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Canon+Digital+Ca meras?tid=informline [5]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Arlington?tid=informline [6]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/John+Lisle?tid=i nformline [7]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Use (Fair Use) [8]: http://digg.com/movies/Help_Fight_Draconian_Zero_Tolerance_Pirac y_Laws_and_Boycott_Regal_Cinemas (Digg This Story) [9]: http://freeculture.org/blog/2007/08/08/boycott-regal- cinemas/#more-345 URL: http://freeculture.org/blog/2007/08/08/boycott-regal-cinemas/ _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://freeculture.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss
