2 MEN CHARGED IN TAPE BOOTLEGGING

Two men were arrested and charged with bootlegging tapes after the producers of “Great Performances: Dance in America” received a catalogue from “Mr. Tape” offering their own programs for sale, according to public television station WNET.

The station said two New York men were arrested and charged with copyright infringement and mail fraud for allegedly bootlegging tapes of performance programs from public television, including “Live from the Met,” “Gala of Stars 1986” and “Great Performances: Dance in America.”

“We took this action to protect our property and to alert others who are contemplating the piracy of dance and music programming that it will not be tolerated,” said Gary Knell, general counsel for WNET. “We will seek criminal prosecution throughout the United States.”