Screener
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A screener is an advance video or DVD copy of a film sent to critics, awards voters, and other movie industry professionals, including producers and distributors.
In 2003 the MPAA announced that they would be ceasing distribution of screeners to Academy members, citing fears of piracy. The MPAA later reinstated the screeners with the implementation of a new policy requiring recipients to sign a binding contract that they would not share the screeners with others.
In January 2004, Academy member Carmine Caridi was announced as a "person of interest" in an ongoing FBI investigation into video piracy. On February 5, 2004, Mr. Caridi was expelled from the Academy after he was found to have sent a contact in Illinois close to 300 screeners over the past five years.