Introducing new powers to fight copyright crime

[Punjab2000]

Record industry welcomes government's introduction of new powers to fight copyright crime : 6:4:2007



> Labels association BPI pledge support for authorities as government gives Trading Standards powers to seize fake and bootleg CDs

> BPI to work with colleagues across the creative industries to help authorities make the most of new powers to tackle commercial music piracy


The UK recorded music industry has today praised the introduction by the government of new measures to tackle commercial music piracy, and has outlined plans to work alongside the authorities to help them tackle the problem effectively.



Tomorrow (April 6) the Government will implement the recommendation of the Gowers Review to bring into force sections 107A and 198A of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.



The BPI has for 13 years lobbied government to bring these sections of law into force, and Trading Standards officers will now have the power to seize pirate and bootleg CDs that breach copyright law, even if they do not bear infringing trade marks. The implementation is bolstered by the provision of a further £5m from the Treasury to fund Trading Standards' activities.



The BPI has reiterated its commitment to work closely with Trading Standards to help ensure that the extra funding is used to tackle music piracy, and will work closely alongside The Alliance Against Intellectual Property Theft (AAIPT) and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) to help authorities implement procedures that will see the problem effectively tackled.



BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor said:



"We are pleased that the Government has now corrected the long-standing anomaly that prevented Trading Standards from protecting copyright in the same way that they protect brands. This opens a new front in the fight against music piracy. People who try to make an illegal profit by ripping off musicians, record companies and consumers, in CD-R labs or at car boot sales, should take note that they are now more likely to face criminal prosecution."



"Our creative industries, including the record industry, are key drivers of the UK economy, but they can only flourish if robust action is taken by Government against copyright theft. It is therefore vital that the Government ensures that Trading Standards uses the new resources that accompany the new powers to target copyright crime."

[Music PR]

PR 968
23 April 2007
For Immediate Release
20,000 pirate DVDs and CDs put Southall trader in jail

A Southall Broadway trader has been sentenced to 15 months in jail after he was caught with 20,000 pirate DVDs and CDs during a joint investigation by Ealing Council and the Metropolitan Police.

Valued at more than £200,000, the haul was seized during a raid on a retail unit in Punjabi Bazaar (45 The Broadway, Southall) and an associated flat by officers from the council’s Trading Standards team and the Southall Broadway Safer Neighbourhood Police Team on 5 May last year.

In Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (20 April) Raghubir Singh Chopra, a 27-year-old man from Hayes, pleaded guilty to the possession for sale of illegal counterfeit DVDs and associated offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994. He was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.

Ealing Council Leader Jason Stacey said: “This is yet another great result for our partnership work on tackling the sale of counterfeit goods and organised crime.

“Piracy is a serious crime with serious consequences and our action sends a clear message that we won’t let it go unpunished.”

Taking action to make Ealing’s communities safer is one of the Council’s three priorities. The Council’s other two priorities are cleaner streets and providing value for money services.

Police Sergeant Shahid Malik, of Southall Broadway Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “I hope that local residents will be pleased that the Southall Broadway Safer Neighbourhood Team along with the Council are taking such positive action to deal with counterfeit sales and distribution.

“We will continue to gather intelligence and evidence against people who continue to break the law to combat this sort of offence. We are fully committed to targeting and ultimately stopping local crime networks that are involved in counterfeit sales and distribution.”

BPI Director of Anti-Piracy David Wood said: "Despite the fantastic efforts of the Metropolitan Police and Trading Standards, Asian music and film piracy remains an enormous problem, particularly in Southall, and the piracy rate is still some way above that of western products.

"By selling vast quantities of counterfeit Bollywood CDs and DVDs Chopra's criminal activity was illegally generating him significant income at the expense of the music and film industries, London's legitimate retail businesses, honest taxpayers, and of course the artists themselves."

Officers raided the unit and flat following intelligence and information received from a variety of sources including local residents.

Nearly all the DVDs seized were Bollywood films, some of which had not yet been released in UK cinemas.

Cllr Stacey added: “Film and music piracy may seem like a victimless crime but it has links to organised crime and other criminal activity including the drugs market, violence, benefit fraud, and the abuse of people who are forced to sell these items on the street.

“When consumers buy a pirate DVD, not only do they risk viewing a poor quality film, they are also supporting organised crime.”

If you have information on the sales of illegal DVDs or CDs in Southall please contact Southall Broadway Safer Neighbourhood Team on 020 8721 2771 or Ealing Council Trading Standards on 020 8825 6086. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Notes for Editors
• The estimated genuine equivalent retail value of the counterfeit DVDs and CDs seized is more than £200,000. The estimated street value is £50,000.
• Film piracy nets more than £270 million a year for criminals in the UK. Counterfeit DVDs and CDs are sold everywhere from ice cream vans through to barber’s shops and pubs and clubs.
• It is an attractive trade for criminals who see it as a low risk, high profit industry. Gangs are thought to employ illegal immigrants trying to pay off their debts for a passage to the UK or to cover their lodgings.

[Music PR]

Mira Uk Ltd, based in Brick Lane, London E1 was found guilty on Friday 20th April in Thames Magistrates' court of possession for supply of unclassified Bollywood and Bengali DVD’s.

On 28th February 2006 officers from trading standards swooped on the premises after complaints from customers and seized 105 DVDS and 319 VHS films for infringing the video recordings act 1984.

The Company is well-established in the community but failed to act on previous advice and warnings from trading standards of its malpractices and was prosecuted.

At Thames Magistrates’ Court, the company was fined £3000.00 and also ordered to pay prosecution costs in the sum of £1,342.00 and the court further ordered the forfeiture of all the DVD’s and videos that were seized.

Nazir Ali, trading standards lead officer for the case said - "It sends out a clear signal to other traders in the borough that we would actively pursue illicit traders and ensure they are prosecuted".