Following the operation against the selling of pirated Japanese cartoon discs in Sino Centre in Mong Kok on March 23, Customs officers of Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau and Special Task Force raided its shopping arcade today (April 1).
A total of 20,000 pirated discs, worth about HK$600,000, were seized from 15 stores. This was the second operation mounted in ten days, which was part of the intensive follow-up crack down action targeted at that selling black spot.
During the operation, 15 men, aged between 19 to 50, were arrested.
Most of the pirated Japanese cartoon discs seized were well-packed box set.
"With the support of copyright owners in providing intelligence and assisting the Department to make out cases in court, Customs will continue mounting intensive follow-up crack down operations and maintaining close co-operation with copyright owners," a spokesman for Customs and Excise said today (April 1).
During the last operation on March 23, Customs officers seized 0.2 million pirated discs, worth about $6 million, from 22 stores of that shopping arcade and two pirated discs storage centers. Eighteen persons, aged between 19 to 60, were arrested.
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 HK$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/Friday, April 1, 2005