Here are the facts. Hyman Strachman is 92 years old. He's a WWII Pacific Theater combat veteran. He is a widower whose bride of more than 50 years died in 2003. He is considered a folk hero to the current generation of soldiers serving in Afghanistan. He's also in danger of felony bootlegging charges, a 6 year prison sentence, and $250,000+ in fines.
Inspired by soldiers' requests for movie DVDs, "Big Hy", as he's known, burned and shipped hundreds of thousands of new release movie titles overseas to the troops free of charge. Well....not exactly free. Those blank DVDs, professional multi disc burners, even the shipping costs were borne by Hyman himself to the estimated tune of $30,000.
Big Hy didn't count this cost, however. The walls of his home are adorned with pictures, letters, and other mementos from the troops who've been recipients of his shipments of unique Americana and reminders of home. These soldiers' "Thank You's" appear to be the only thing he'll take as payment for his efforts. There's a feeling of kinship known only among those who've been separated from home and family and know the bleakness of a battle field. This bond apparently transcends generations. Big Hy felt this bond with his brothers in arms in Afghanistan and wanted to do "something", so he did.
These are the facts. Hyman Strachman has run afoul of copyright infringement and anti piracy laws. He's admitted his guilt. He knows the penalties. He did it anyway. In this public forum (and with a pending security investigation) I cannot condone his actions. What he did and is doing is wrong.
However, with insurmountable evidence and an eight year window of activity, no one in the Department of Justice, the US military, the US Postal Service, and most tellingly in the MPAA has moved to press charges against Big Hy.
Sources:
April 26, 2012 Article by Alan Schwarz, "The New York Times"
Lawyers.com: Penalty For Selling Bootleg Movies
EHow.com: Federal Penalties for Pirating Movies
