The FBI charged California resident William C. Philputt Friday (Feb. 27) with violating federal anti-piracy laws. Philputt is suspected of selling advance copies of Tim Burton’s film “Big Fish” online.
The agency believes that Philputt, who lives in the L.A. suburb of Sherman Oaks, made the illegal copies from a disc sent to actress Hanna Hertelendy from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, of which Hertelendy is a member.
The FBI also found illegal copies of “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” films from “Star Wars” trilogy and the “Sex and the City” television series during a search of Philputt’s apartment.
In January, the FBI arrested Illinois resident Russell W. Sprague Sr., for allegedly posting films on the Internet without authorization.