Story posted Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Muvico Taping Charges Dropped
Charges against a Chicago woman who was allegedly caught recording several minutes of the blockbuster movie "Twilight: New Moon: at Rosemont's Muvico Theater were dropped last Friday after the film's director reportedly came to her defense.
A spokeswoman for the Cook County State's Attorney said charges were dropped at the insistence of Summit Studios, the company that released the film and owns the copyright.
Samantha Tumpach, of the 3800 block of Odell Ave., Chicago, was charged late last month with one count of felony criminal use of motion picture equipment, a charge that carries a one to three year prison sentence and up to a $25,000 fine, after she was allegedly caught with several minutes of video footage from the new Twilight movie at the Rosemont theater.
At the time, a Rosemont police spokesman said Muvico management was "firm" in its desire to prosecute.
On Monday, Summit Studios issued a written statement both praising Muvico for taking a "zero tolerance" position on video piracy while also saying, "Summit is pleased that all charges against Ms. Tumpach have been dropped and appreciate the efforts of the police and the prosecutors in this outcome." Earlier this month the film's director, Chris Weitz, came to Tumpach's defense after the case made international headlines.
"The case seems to me terribly unfair and I would like to do what I can to address this," Weitz was quoted as saying in several media accounts.
He continued, "There is, needless to say, a difference between trying to protect the copyright of a film and making an unfair example of someone who clearly seems not to have any intentions towards video piracy."At the time she was charged, Rosemont police said they attempted to find a misdemeanor charge for Tumpach but after consulting with the Cook County State's Attorney found none existed.
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