A group of his supporters were on hand to back him up, but a Montreal man charged with illegally distributing camcorded movies on the internet was nowhere to be found Wednesday.

Gérémi Adam, 25, failed to appear for his arraignment, prompting a judge to issue an arrest warrant for him.

"We have a warrant and the police officers will try to find Mr. Adam," said federal prosecutor Yacine Agnaou. "When he is found, he will be mandated to appear in court."

The case is the first in which the RCMP has used the Copyright Act to fight alleged distribution of pirated movies on the internet.

Adam is facing two counts of knowingly distributing copyrighted material — pirated Hollywood films — on the internet.

Police allege Adam sold the films under the alias Maven, with the pirated movies destined for sale on the internet and on Canadian streets.

The RCMP says it was tipped off by the FBI, who flagged Maven as having a reputation on the web for putting together an above-average product.

Adam was arrested in September 2006 outside a theatre after allegedly recording How to Eat Fried Worms and Invincible.

The timing of the alleged incidents prevented the Mounties from charging Adam under new tougher criminal legislation aimed at stamping out camcording, which was enacted in June.

But an organization calling themselves Hors-d-Oeuvre says Adam is being wrongfully targeted and that movies as well as other entertainment should be distributed for free.

About 20 rowdy supporters picketed outside the courthouse, calling the charges against him unjust and shouting "Free Gérémi!"

When asked about the property rights of people who create films, Guillaume Beauvais shouted "We don't care."

"What we want is access to products at the lowest price possible," Beauvais said.