(Sacramento-AP) -- The state Senate has approved legislation intended to discourage Internet pirating of music and films by requiring disseminators to disclose their e-mail addresses.
Senator Kevin Murray of Culver City says his legislation would enable law enforcement to use the addresses to track down people who violate copyright laws by illegally distributing copies of commercial films and recordings.
He said a number of other states and countries use the same tactic.
Failure by an adult to disclose a true e-mail address when disseminating a commercial film or recording on the Internet would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Juveniles could be fined 250 dollars for a first or second violation of the bill's requirements. A third or subsequent violation could result in a fine of up to a thousand dollars and a year in jail.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
