The Motion Picture Association of America filed a round of lawsuits against individuals using software to illegally trade films that have been nominated for an Academy Award. The lawsuits were filed Feb. 10 in the federal court in California, New York, Georgia and the District of Columbia. The suits seek damages of up to $30,000 for each illegally downloaded film; and up to $150,000 per film if willful copyright infringement is proven. Among the films that had been downloaded illegally are “Capote,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” “Walk the Line,” and “Syriana.” The lawsuits are part of the continuing effort to cut down on movie thieves and enforce copyright laws. “The rampant online theft of Oscar-nominated films is a glaring example of the damage piracy can do and in particular to some of the smaller films that depend on revenues to recoup their investments,” MPAA Chairman and CEO Dan Glickman said in a prepared statement. The association represents Buena Vista Pictures Distribution; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.; Paramount Pictures; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.; Universal Studios; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.