CopyWronged Episode VIII The Last Bully

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(Note: Copywronged is a 13 part blog of the backstory behind the 2019 Orphan Works Trial. You have come in the middle of story. Click back to beginning for the FULL story )

2016 was basically more of the same. More offers to plead guilty with no acknowledgement of the legal debate, just plead guilty and allow the government to “help you”. 

As Homeland Security expanded their reach by contacting members of Heidi’s Family and other past employees of EDGE Video, I repeated my mantra to Heidi. I will plead guilty, all you have to do is say the words. But again,  she never did. Ever.

After waiting 6 months from when the 2015 Search Warrant was served, I started up lostmoviesfound.com. Because I already knew I was never going to plead guilty for copyright infringement, unless of course, I had to save Heidi from being prosecuted. But nothing happened. I had already lost the stores, had no way to make an income and believed, (And I STILL believe) what I was doing was legal. 
Why should I not continue? Because a Bully with a Badge told me not to? 
Besides I was never really “Warned” repeatedly like the Government likes to say over and over again.  I was told to PLEAD GUILTY.  My lawyer summed it pretty good during the trial, “if this was such a simple case to prove the government wouldn't need five cartons of exhibits and 50 witnesses  to do so.” 

The Orphan Works Trial was the first of its kind in the United States and that means one of these two were going on. 

1. The US Government is trying to enhance the copyright law by making an example out of me as a warning to anyone doing the same thing. (Which is very doubtful at this point, it’s been 2 years since the trial and there are still hundreds, possibly thousands of websites selling the exact same titles on DVD, movies that have never had an authorized DVD release) *  

2. This case was Pretextual Prosecution, meaning the copyright case is a facade for a real case. A more serious case and which for whatever reason… the US Government believes I was involved in. But they can’t prove it. Which I understand happens all time in law enforcement but what if I am not involved in this second case? How can it be portrayed as Justice?

Next time we talk about other developments in the Walmart Theft Ring as my case slowly crawls forward to an Indictment and Trial. ​

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