A seventh defendant has pleaded guilty in connection with Operation D-Elite, the first criminal enforcement action targeting individuals committing copyright infringement on a peer-to-peer (P2P) network using BitTorrent technology.

The Defendant faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. According to the North Country Gazette, the Motion Picture Association of America provided substantial assistance to this investigation.

The policy reasons for putting downloaders in prison are unclear. While jail time may serve some deterrent function, rights holders already have an appropriate mechanism for obtaining financial compensation, through civil litigation. Even more dubious is the MPA’s assistance in putting consumers in prison.

I guess it makes for a good show.

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