Press Release from the Tallahassee Police Department:

Members of the Tallahassee Police Department Property Crimes Unit served a search warrant at 1525 McCaskill Avenue #7 leading to the arrest of Dewayne Brown. The search warrant was obtained based on probable cause related to a separate ongoing criminal investigation.

During the search warrant, investigators located stacks of unauthorized copies of movies and music, stacks of blank discs, as well as numerous related pricing lists that had been created by Brown. Brown had in his possession over 2,000 discs of movies and music, to include titles that have not been released in movie theaters or to the public. Movies such as: Sherlock Holmes, Legion, Book of Eli, Daybreakers, The Princess and the Frog, Tooth Fairy, Avatar, Alvin and the Chipmunks 2, and The Spy Next Door were located in paper disc sleeves with the titles handwritten on the discs with marker.

Investigators contacted representatives of the Motion Picture Association of America during the search. They were able to confirm Brown has not been authorized by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to sell, duplicate or distribute the movies in his possession. The MPAA and their affiliates license the manufacture and distribution of their motion pictures in optical disc format. The DVDs and CDs in Brown’s possession were on DVD-R and CD-R format. Legitimate DVDs are packaged professionally and labeled appropriately with holograms, logos, and trademarks from the respective film companies. The DVDs in Brown’s possession did not have bar coding/UPC coding, or labeling.

Brown was charged with 540.11 (2)(a) Unauthorized copying of phonograph records, disk, wire, tape, film, or other article on which sounds are recorded. The statute dictates when there are more than seven different titles, the charge shall be a third degree felony. The original investigation continues.