Does anyone know for sure if it is illegal to buy pirated DVDs in Asia and bring them back to the States?

Question

I have heard my mom tell me from multiple people that they've heard of who got caught and were fined $10,000. This story is a little vague and after looking on the internet, I found news articles saying there is a $10,000 fine for being caught taping or selling pirated movies, but nothing about buying them.

does anyone know if this is true? have you brought pirated movies into the US before? ever been stopped? if u have what happened?
Thanks

Answer 1

Of course it's illegal.
I don't know what the fine is,
Yes I have bought and I've never been caught.

Answer 2

Some friends of mine brought some pirated discs back home with them. None of them were searched when they went through customs so there were no issues. The discs we were buying looked professional and even had the copyright symbols on the label and everything. They would actually have to load the disc up in order to tell if it was pirated or not unless the disc is of a movie only out in theatres.

If you look on the department of state website about travel, I think it mentions the penalties for bringing pirated items back to the states.

As long as they look real, I don't think you'll have a problem. Then again, you could always try to mail them.

Answer 3

From what I have read, it is wrong to knowingly sell or traffic pirated dvds. Amazingly there are tone of them to be purchased.
My guess is that they enter the company untitled and with out jackets. Those are probably mailed to the US avoiding customs. Of course the question is are these region free copies or something else. The US is region 1, so only 0 and 1 will play on U.S. Machines. it would be a shame to risk penalty and wind up bring in the wrong stuff. It also makes a difference if the pirated material is sold in the U.S. If it is not then there my not be a penalty. But if you are planning on bringing in hundreds of these movies you may find a problem regardless. Er on the side of caution.

Answer 4

Friends of mine who travel to China regularly purchase those $1 dvd's. Though it is probably illegal to purchase them the government is more interested in busting up the huge conglomerates that create and distribute them. We have a few of the movies at home. It's more of a moral issue, the company that spent the $$ to create the movie and the actors and all the workers who put it together are the one's you are really stealing from. You won't be fined unless you start copying them yourself and start selling the bootlegs, too. Also, you should be aware that some of the copies are SOOOO bad, people set up a camera in a movie theatre and film the movie . . . you see people get up during the movie and the like. I would just stick with purchasing the original movie and giving the film company its due!

Bottom line, though, is you're not going to be stopped and you're not going to get a $10,000 fine.

Answer 5

FYI, pirated DVDs are illegal in Asia too but nobody cares. =D And my advice is, don't get caught.

Besides, only the big movies are pirated so piracy is okay. Hah. Hollywood film studios get more than enough.

Answer 6

It would be possession of stolen property. If someone else stole a car and you bought it, and then you got caught, you would be charged with possessing a stolen vehicle. This is the same idea as possessing illegal drugs; doesn't matter how you got it, the fact that you have it is illegal.

Why do you want to be a petty crook? Is it just that you want to steal from others? Would you like someone to steal from you?

Answer 7

yes it is illegal and you dont want to get caught at all, but im not really sure what will happen to you if you get caught someone told me you can go to jail but im not that sure.

Answer 8

yes it is illegal