April 20, 2021
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A Maryland man has reportedly pleaded guilty to copyright infringement for selling counterfeit DVDs containing copyrighted works, including television shows, movies and fitness programs.
From 2008 to 2018, Olayinka Wahab sold approximately 18,306 DVDs amounting to a profit of $315,761.44. The copyrighted works belonged to Disney/ABC Studios, Beachbody, Fox, HBO Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, Netflix, MGM and Warner Brothers, to name a few.
In 2017, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) identified a seller on an internet marketplace selling DVDs at a discount. The MPA purchased an item and analyzed the DVD, and determined it was counterfeit, despite the packaging and labeling being almost indistinguishable from the packaging and labeling found on legitimate copies. The MPA then contacted law enforcement.
According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office Press Release, Wahab agreed to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes and now faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for copyright infringement.
Authors: Shannon Skillings and Meghan King
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