Hong Kong Customs has raided five chain stores of a computer shop suspected of selling desktop computers installed with infringing software. In the operation, Customs officers seized 14 desktop computers and 193 pirated software disks, worth about $60,000, and arrested seven people, aged from 19 to 53.
Acting on information about some shops selling desktop computers installed with infringing software, Customs officers, posing as customers, last week made orders of desktop computers from the five chain stores in Tuen Mun.
The officers later raided the shops and found the ordered computers were installed with infringing software. In the blitz, officers seized 14 desktop computers and 193 pirated disks containing infringing software for operating system and office applications.
Among the six men and a woman arrested, two were proprietors and five salespersons. They were released on bail pending investigation.
Speaking at a press briefing today (January 28), the Group Head of Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, Mr Thomas Lin, reminded people, especially proprietors and salespersons of computer stores, that anyone who possessed, sold, or distributed infringing software for business or trade, committed a criminal offence.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person, unless authorised by the copyright owner of a copyright work, for the purpose of or in the course of any trade or business, possesses, sells, distributes an infringing copy of the work commits a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for the offence is imprisonment for four years and a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy.
People may call Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 for reporting any suspected copyright piracy activities.
Ends/Thursday, January 28, 2010
