The Canadians put it best: “The use of the US Patriot Act in the U.S.A. just gets crazier and crazier.” Seems that Adam McGaughey, who’s a long-time fan of the popular MGM sci-fi series, had his apartment raided by the FBI back in May 2002 after MGM and MPAA officials allegedly pressed the FBI to pursuing criminal charges. The FBI used the US Patriot Act to obtain financial records from the websites Internet Service Provider (ISP) during the investigation.

See: http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20040726162300981 and
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=17462
for off-shore articles on a story that doesn’t seem to be carried at all in U.S. national media.

And be afraid…be very afraid. If a film studio thinks you’re “infringing” (like by saying “MGM sucks” or something), the FBI may be breathing down your necks, using the full strength of the U.S. Patriot Act as their weapon. (Also see my comments earlier in the week on DVR’s Endangered.)

Just a quick note; there’s a sampler of Jackson Beck’s work available at the Friends of Old-Time Radio Convention website. Includes clips from Superman, Tom Corbett, and more.