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POLICE CARRY OUT 2ND RAID AGAINST BIGGEST EVER COUNTERFEIT DVD SYNDICATEOver 80,000 High Quality Counterfeit DVDs seized in second factory unit
12APR 2013
SYDNEY โ On 12 April, Detectives from Quakers Hill Police, with the support of investigators from the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), conducted a search warrant operation on a storage unit in Blacktown, seizing an estimated 80,000 High Quality Counterfeit (HQC) โRegion 4โ movie DVDs and TV box sets as well as artwork and promotional inserts. This latest seizure is subsequent to the NSW Police action on 4th April when 1.2 million High Quality Counterfeit (HQC) DVDs, computers, and a shrink wrapping machine were seized from an associated factory unit.
Following last weekโs police operation, a 29 year-old female from Marayong was arrested and is currently released under bail conditions. Police also questioned a 37-year-old male from Marayong. They are both likely to be charged with numerous copyright and trademark offences, as well as dealing with the proceeds of crime, fraud and money laundering offences.
It will be alleged that the syndicate were using multiple names, residential and business addresses, and post office boxes to import the High Quality Counterfeit (HQC) โRegion 4โ DVDs into Australia from an overseas source. These HQC DVDs and accompanying artwork and promotional inserts were then allegedly assembled and repackaged in a factory unit at Kings Park, NSW, before being sold on the internet auction site eBay for approximately 30% off the Recommended Retail Price (RRP). Unsuspecting customers would have been under the impression that the DVDs and box sets they were purchasing were authentic.
It will be alleged that over 65,000 High Quality Counterfeit DVDs were sold on two eBay accounts, totalling sales in excess of $1.6 million. It will also be alleged that the High Quality Counterfeit (HQC) discs were also being sold to unsuspecting small retail outlets in a number of states.
Following todayโs search warrant operation, Neil Gane, Managing Director AFACT said, โWe would like to thank NSW police and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service for their outstanding work in stopping this sophisticated illegal operation. The extent of the alleged criminal activity conducted by this operation was quite remarkable. Not a cent of the hefty illegal profits made by those involved in this counterfeit syndicate goes back to the actors, creators and copyright holders, and it doesnโt stop there: local community retail businesses and online distribution platforms also suffer from lost business, and jobs are put at risk.
The outstanding work by NSW Police sends an unambiguous message to people involved in copyright theft: that they will be investigated, charged, and brought to trial.โ
Simon Bush, CEO of the Australian Home Entertainment Distributors Association said, โCongratulations to AFACT and the NSW police in stopping this large piracy operation. It is critical that Australian consumers can feel confident when purchasing content online whether it be physical or digital. This operation ensures that Australians can buy in confidence to get the amazing experience in picture and sound quality from legitimate discs and ensure that revenue goes back into production and not crime.โ
On 2nd April, Mrs. Thanit SOM-AROM was sentenced to 18 months jail for manufacturing and selling infringing DVDs from a shop in Pitt Street, Haymarket. This followed a December 2011 search warrant operation undertaken by NSW Police and assisted by AFACT in which 44 DVDR burners and more than 50,000 illegal movie DVDs were seized.
Penalties for copyright crimes under the Commonwealth Copyright Act are a maximum of $60,500 and/or 5 years jail per offence.
Members of the community can provide information on movie piracy to Crime Stoppers or AFACT
Protecting and promoting the screen community in Australia
AFACT works closely with industry, government and enforcement agencies to address copyright theft and protect the interests of the film and television community as well as the interests of Australian movie fans.
In August 2012, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released The Economic Contribution of Australiaโs Copyright Industries 1996-97 to 2010-11, prepared for the Australian Copyright Council. The report made the following key findings:
1. 906,591 people were employed in the copyright industries, representing 8% of the Australian workforce.
2. The copyright industries generated an economic value of $93.2 billion, the equivalent of 6.6 % of gross domestic product (GDP).
3. The copyright industries generated just over $7 billion in exports, equal to 2.9% of total exports.
More News12APR 2013 POLICE CARRY OUT 2ND RAID AGAINST BIGGEST EVER
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