New York man sentenced to prison after pirating copy of 'Wolverine' film

A New York man was sentenced to one year in federal prison for uploading a pirated copy of X-Men Origins: Wolverine on Monday.

Gilberto Sanchez, 49, pleaded guilty in March 2011 to uploading a “workprint” copy of the movie in March 2009, a month before the film’s release, the Associated Press reported.

He uploaded the film to Megaupload.com and publicized the upload by posting links on two other sites.

U.S District Judge Margaret M. Morrow, the sentencing judge, said his offense was “very serious,” Reuters reported.

Judge Morrow also imposed a year of supervised release for the Bronx resident, along with some computer restrictions.

“[He] had been regularly uploading pirated movies for four or five years, and did not appear remorseful after charges were brought,” prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum.

Prosecutors also said that the film went viral, resulting in almost a million infringements.

“[It] sends a strong message of deterrence to would-be Internet pirates ... The Justice Department will pursue and prosecute persons who seek to steal the intellectual property of this nation,” United States Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said about Sanchez’s sentencing.