Ottawa launches anti-piracy bill to target movie pirates

New legislation meant to crack down on film piracy was introduced by the federal government on Friday, two days after former action star and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Under the new Ottowa anti-piracy bill, the first offence could draw up to two years in jail, and the second, a penalty of up to five years.

Under the Copyright Act, a person who commercially distributes a movie they filmed in a theatre can be prosecuted, but Justice Minister and Attorney General Robert Douglas Nicholson said there is a gap in the law.