Anti-Piracy Victory: NinjaVideo Founder Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison

A rare win for the anti-piracy forces during a rough week

A Virginia judge sentenced Matthew David Howard Smith, one of the founders of copyright-infrgining website NinjaVideo.net, to 14 months in prison Friday.

Smith will also serve two years of supervised release, pay $172,387 and forfeit some financial accounts and computer equipment.

NinjaVideo, which hosted links for assorted movies and TV shows, was taken down in June of 2010 as part of “Operation in Our Sites.”

Also read: Sunk! How Hollywood Lost the PR Battle Over SOPA

Fellow co-founder Hana Amal Beshara, aka "Queen Phara," was senteced to 22 months Jan. 6 for conspiracy and criminal copyright infringement.

Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy and criminal copyright infringement Sept. 23 of last year.

Also read: Anonymous Hackers Shut Down DOJ, MPAA Websites

Anti-piracy forces have not scored many victories this week, with two pieces of Congressional legislation now delayed.

However, between the NinjaVideo case and this week's shut down of Megaupload, the government and Hollywood did score a couple of jabs.

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