Hurt Locker Producers Take Legal Action Against Pirates

In a bid to curb digital piracy, the producer of The Hurt locker have decided to sue over 5,000 internet users who illegally downloaded the the Oscar-winning film.

The move from the film's producer, Voltage Pictures, comes after a mediocre performance at the box office. The Hurt Locker earned just £11.3 million - one of the worst performances by an Oscar-winning film ever.

The producer's legal claim, filed in Washington DC, stated: “Distribution of even one unlawful copy could result in the nearly instantaneous worldwide distribution of that single copy to a limitless number of people".

Such attempts to control piracy have been made in the past, but to no real effect.

Voltage Pictures is in constant touch with internet providers in an effort to identify every online user who downloaded the copy of the movie illegally.

They intend to levy a charge of £1,000 on these offenders, with the possibility of the fine rising to £100,000 if the case is taken to court.