Customs officers from the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau yesterday (August 9) raided photocopying shops to deter infringing reprographic copies of books.
Following earlier complaint from a copyright owner on suspected illicit photocopying activities, Customs officers conducted intensive investigations.
In the operation, Customs officers seized 440 infringing photocopies of books and two photocopying machines from two shops in Tseung Kwan O and a shop in North Point. The total seizure was worth about $170,000.
Two men, aged 26 and 62 respectively, and a 49-year-old woman were arrested.
A Customs spokesman today (August 10) reminded the public, with shop owners and staffs of photocopying shops in particular, to stay away from illicit photocopying activities.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, it is an offence for a person to possess, for the purpose of or in the course of a profit-making copying service business, an infringing copy of a copyright work as published in a book, magazine or periodical. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and four years' imprisonment.
Hong Kong Customs and the Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society last year launched a reward scheme to encourage the public to provide information on activities involving illegal photocopying of books.
Members of the public can provide information by calling the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182. All information of the informants will be kept confidential.
Ends/Thursday, August 10, 2006