Montreal RCMP have charged a man they allege is a world leader in pirating movies, an arrest they say could help counter Montreal's reputation as a major location for movie piracy.

Gérémi Adam, 25, had a reputation for putting high-quality pirated films on the internet, according to RCMP spokesman Noël St-Hilaire.

"Individuals who can actually take the film, clean it up, make it presentable, put the sound to it, and ship it so it is a quality product, you can probably count those on your fingers on your one hand," St-Hilaire said.

The RCMP said Adam was arrested while using a camcorder to copy a film at a movie theatre in the AMC Forum.

St-Hilaire said the FBI has identified Adam as one of the world leaders in movie pirating.

Michael Robinson — director of North American anti-piracy operations for the Motion Pictures Association of America — said the arrest is a step in the right direction.

"The actions here today send an important message that the Canadian government takes [movie piracy] seriously," he said.

Adam is expected in court in late January to face two charges of distributing pirated films.

He faces a fine of up to $25,000, a maximum six-month jail term or both.