The Anti-Internet Piracy Team (AIPT) of Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 16) seized the largest quantity of pirated disks for sale via an Internet auction site.
Customs officers seized over 12,000 pirated disks and a computer, worth about $310,000 in total; and arrested a 28-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman. They will be charged with possession of infringing article for commercial purpose.
Acting on complaints received a few months ago about selling activities of pirated disks on Internet, AIPT launched investigations and suspected that pirated animation disks were sold through a local Internet auction site.
With the assistance of Internet Service Provider, Customs officers located a computer used for uploading materials to the alleged auction site.
They mounted an operation in North Point yesterday afternoon (June 16); and arrested a 28-year-old man at an MTR station when he handed over the pirated disks to a Customs officer disguised as a customer.
Later on, Customs officers seized from an apartment a large quantity of pirated disks of movies and animation films, including a cartoon film now on show on TV.
Subsequently, Customs officers arrested a 22-year-old woman related to the case.
As summer holiday is approaching, a spokesman for Customs and Excise Department urged youngsters not to engage in piracy activities, particularly distributing copyright works or selling pirated goods via internet.
The existing Anti-internet Piracy Team was set up in April 2000 for investigating Internet piracy activities. It consists of seven Customs officers who have attended courses on computer crime and forensic examination in local or overseas universities.
To step up crackdown against pirated and counterfeit activities on the Internet, Hong Kong Customs has set up the second seven-member Anti-Internet Piracy Team this April to strengthen its investigation and enforcement.
Under Copyright Ordinance, anyone who is found in possession of any infringing article for commercial purpose is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 per infringing article and four-year imprisonment.
Members of the public are urged to report any suspected Internet piracy activities by calling the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, June 17, 2005