In a two-day (September 25 and 26) operation against illicit photocopying activities of copyright works, Customs officers of Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau raided three photocopying shops in Tseung Kwan O, one in Sai Wan Ho, one in Tin Shui Wai; and a storage centre at a residential premises in Sai Wan Ho.
Apart from seven photocopiers and three book-binding machines, Customs officers seized about 225 photocopies of books. The books were university and A-Level reference books and primary school level exercise books. The total seizure was worth about $90,000.
Customs investigation showed that the retail shop and the residential premises in Sai Wan Ho might be related to each other.
Customs officers arrested four men, aged between 22 and 50; and three women, aged between 33 and 52.
The Divisional Commander of Copyright Investigation Division, Mr Koon Hon-chuen, today (September 27) appealed to the photocopying shops not to take advantage of the start of the school semester to engage themselves in illicit photocopying business, or they would face prosecution.
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 set up a "Reward Scheme to Combat Illegal Photocopying of Books" to encourage the public to provide information on activities involving illegal photocopying of books. Information provided will be kept in strict confidence.
Members of the public are encouraged to report on suspected piracy activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Wednesday, September 27, 2006