U.K. Student on Trial for the First 3D Camcorder Piracy Case

Ciprian Florea, a 28-year-old film technology student in the U.K., is being accused of creating a camera that can record 3D movies and intending to record the movie Gravity. The device comprised of two high-definition camcorders placed in a custom-made box that recorded with the necessities of creating the left and right eye effect for 3D images. Movies have been "bootlegged" since cameras could be snuck into theaters; however, this is the first case where a person has allegedly attempted to record a 3D production. Florea's defense is that he brought the camera in but had no intention of using it to film Gravity.

Florea, a student of film technology at Birmingham City University, is said to have hired two special high-definition cameras the day before his arrest. These had been placed in a custom-made box in order to record the left and right eye as required for 3D imaging. 

With no specific “camming” legislation available to the prosecution, Florea stands accused of possessing a 3D camera with intent to commit fraud, i.e the recording and subsequent distribution of the movie.

It's fascinating to be around during a time when technology is developing faster than the media can keep up with it. After researching piracy for several weeks now, I have read about people and organizations accused of various different forms of piracy (see the nine types) and the repercussions for those actions; I have also read and watched several critiques of the film industry and its reactions to these pirates, and it is quite clear that the industry can't get the legislatures to keep up with the increasing abilities of consumers. It seems much more reactive than proactive. After all, the U.K. didn't even have a simple way to charge Florea.

Source:
A. (2015, January 6). First 3D camcorder piracy case: student on trial | TorrentFreak. Retrieved from http://torrentfreak.com/first-3d-camcorder-piracy-case-student-on-trial-150106/