The case of 'Captain Eugene Horvath'

Auguest 15, 1982

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ho9TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4313,21091&dq=eugene-horvath&hl=en

A federal grand jury is investigating a U.S. Air Force captin following a raid on his home that netted 1,700 master videotapes and copies of pirated movies.

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The seizure was among the nation's first under a federal copyright law toughened in May to increase the penalty for videotape piracy from a misdemeanor to a felony. Convictions can result in up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

January 9, 1984

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2P8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cM0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2279,6526123&dq=eugene-horvath&hl=en

Howvath when he faced the federal felony charge of copyright infringement, admittd he broke the law by operating his home videotaping center, although he said it was a hobby that got out of hand. He accuses the Air Force of running an illegal business.

But at the Pentagon, Air Force spokesman Capt. Johnny Whitaker said the Air Force would not shut down its videotape centers in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines unless required by Congress or the Surpreme Court.

Last year, the U.S. Army closed its videotaping centers, saying thaey were violated copyright laws. The Navy said it has halted videotape copyring The Motion Picture Association of America, members of which own the copyrights to the movies that are being duplicated, said the Air Force appears to be breaking the law.

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Conviction on the copyright charge would have required discharge from the Air Force. But in a report to the federal judge, probation officer Charlie Varnon cited Horwavth's miltary record and the Air Force videotaping activity and said it was be 'criminal' to force his discharge.

Under a plea bargain designed to save his career, Horvath admitted the violation, paid a $7,500 fine and worked 200 hours for a blood bank. The charge was dismissed.

Jun 26, 1984

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6xtKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CiINAAAAIBAJ&pg=6935,2956314&dq=eugene-horvath&hl=en

The Air Force contends that Horvath improperly used videotape equipment to record movies and sell them to fellow officers for a small fee, and used government facilities to transoprt the tapes.

The hearing, which occurs in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling giving apporval to personal, not-for-profit videotaping of films, has drawn nationwide attention.

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB35EBE29D81699&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM

Miami Herald - February 7, 1984 - 9A FRONT

CAPTAIN IS CLEARED IN COPYRIGHT CASE TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- (AP) -- An Air Force captain who taped and sold hundreds of copyright movies to fellow officers was not breaking copyright laws for profit, three colonels ruled in deciding against discharging the 16-year veteran. The special administrative panel did not elaborate in ruling for Capt. Eugene Horvath, 38. He had admitted copying and selling the videotapes but said the Air Force does the same thing at six bases overseas and that his commanding officer...

The case of 'Peter Acrabascio'

July 23, 1981

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=krkfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZtcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2334,2428193&dq=peter-arcabascio&hl=en

Film bootlegging charged

Chicago (AP0 - A North Side videotape dealer faces charges of boolegging at least 33 popular movies, including 'Star Wars' and 'The Empire Strikes Back,' for illegal sale in videocassettes.

The U.S. attorney's office on Monday charged Peter Arcabascio, 58, with violating the copyrights of several motion-picture companies.

Federal agents bought or seized 25 allegedly pirated videocassettes in 1979 and 1980 from two North Side video stores owned by Arcabascio, who also is known as Peter Archer officials said.

Copies of the tapes sold for between $50 and $100 each, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert B. Bresblatt.

Back tothe random:

http://books.google.com/books?ei=WCT9Te2eAanX0QGX6YmJAw&ct=result&id=0CNBAQAAIAAJ&dq=copyright+infringement+%22empire+strikes+back%22&q=%22empire+strikes+back%22#search_anchor

Eighty pirated videocassettes were seized in FBI raids in White Plains and Port Chester, N.Y. "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" and "The Empire Strikes Back" were among the titles confiscated.

Entertainment Law Reporter, Vol 1 1984

http://books.google.com/books?ei=WCT9Te2eAanX0QGX6YmJAw&ct=result&id=kPxCAQAAIAAJ&dq=copyright+infringement+%22empire+strikes+back%22&q=%22empire+strikes+back%22#search_anchor

Copyright, A New York state court has dismissed an indictment charging an individual with the unauthorized recording of sound in connection with alleged manufacturing and sale of videotapes of films such as 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' 'The Empire Strikes Back'