Five more peoples have been charged in connection with a California investigation into Internet piracy.
Federal prosecutors in San Jose announced late Thursday that the new indictment brings to 12 the total number of people charged in "Operation Copycat," a crackdown on the alleged Internet distribution of illegally copied software, games, music and movies.
The five charged Thursday were accused of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and violations of the federal No Electronic Theft Act.
The defendants were young males in their 20s and 30s residing in California, Virginia and Indiana.
Operation Copycat was an undercover operation into the underground sale of "warez," a term used for pirated cyberswag sold over the Internet.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International
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