In a raid against a pirated VCDs selling black spot in Mong Kok yesterday (March 23), Customs officers of Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau and Special Task Force seized about 20,000 pirated VCDs worth about $600,000 from 22 stores.
The seized pirated Japanese cartoon VCDs, which were well-packed, included "Howl's Moving Castle", a newly released cartoon film, and long-time cartoon favorites such as "Gundam" and "Dragon Ball".
Subsequently, Customs officers smashed two pirated Japanese cartoon VCDs storage centres in North Point and Wan Chai with a seizure of 180,000 pirated VCDs totaling $5.4 million. It is believed that the storage centers supplied pirated VCDs for selling in the raided black spot.
During the operation, 17 men, aged between 19 to 60, and a 31 year-old woman were arrested.
Acting on complaint from a major Japanese cartoon production house, Customs officers conducted investigations and mounted the large-scale operation yesterday (March 23) to clamp down the selling of pirated Japanese cartoon VCDs.
Under Copyright Ordinance, anyone who is found in possession of any infringing article for commercial purpose is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is four-year imprisonment and a fine of $50,000 per infringing article.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any piracy activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Thursday, March 24, 2005