WOLVERINE - WATCHING WOLVERINE LEAK COULD LAND YOU IN JAIL

WATCHING WOLVERINE LEAK COULD LAND YOU IN JAIL

UK internet users who download and watch the leaked version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine could risk a prison sentence, legal experts have warned.

An incomplete copy of the as-yet-unreleased comic book film was leaked online last week and viewed by more than 100,000 people.

Reviews also appeared online of the eagerly-awaited Marvel film and 20th Century Fox has strongly condemned critics who wrote about the leaked copy of the action movie (most notably Roger Friedman, a freelance blogger for Foxnews.com who downloaded and reviewed the film produced by his employer's sister company).

The FBI confirmed on Thursday April 2nd that it was investigating the leak and 20th Century Fox has said it intends to prosecute leaks "to the fullest extent of the law".

British internet users who have a copy of the film in their possession could also be at risk, according to Steve Kuncewicz, intellectual property and media law expert at law firm Ralli.

"This is the nightmare scenario which the anti-piracy advertisements have warned about for some time," he explained.

"It just goes to show, however, security in the movie industry is still perhaps not as tight as the studios would like it to be."

X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a prequel to the Marvel movie franchise, tells of the mutant's (Jackman) troubled past, including the death of his girlfriend at the hands of Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) and his involvement in the shady Weapon X programme.

Mr Kuncewicz said a leak of an entire movie - though some special effects shots were missing - is "pretty much unprecedented" and was a definite infringement of copyright.

"The UK has only seen a few copyright actions being brought by major studios in this kind of case, but this is a very serious matter for Fox," he added.

"They are afraid much of the core audience for the movie will now not pay to see it because they have read a negative review of the leaked copy (which apparently is missing 15 minutes of footage and has incomplete special effects and music) or because they've already watched it.

"This may mean action being taken against copiers will be likely in this case."

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is due for release for April 29th.