Internet Pirate Busted in Joint Operation
Games industry representatives work with local authorities to shut down illegal trader
Tuesday 19th September/... A raid at a house in Lowestoft, Suffolk has resulted in the arrest of a man suspected of profiting from illegally copied games, music CDs, cinema titles and unclassified pornography worth an estimated £40,000.
The operation, which was conducted over a three-hour period by officers from Suffolk Trading Standards, Suffolk Police, officials from MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) and ELSPA anti-piracy investigators on 15th September, resulted in the seizure of copying equipment and a large number of discs.
In total, 20 duplicating machines and 5,000 master discs were seized from the man's premises. He was arrested and later released on police bail to return in three months. It is thought the man was trading via a website, set up solely for the purpose of distributing the illegal items. Early indications suggest his illegal activities also extended to trading to customers outside the UK.
Michael Rawlinson, managing director of ELSPA commented: "This operation is a real feather in the cap for Suffolk Trading Standards, the MPCS and ELSPA who, through carefully coordinated action, have put the brakes on another internet pirate's illegal activities."
Jill Korwin, assistant county trading standards officer for Suffolk, said: "This was a successful operation, resulting in a suspected illegal business being stopped. Officers will now work to build the case to ensure appropriate action is taken against the individual."
She continued: "By working in partnership with MCPS and ELPSA we have been able to combine powers and expertise to deal with a significant counterfeiting operation. We will continue to use all powers at our disposal to ensure counterfeiters in Suffolk are appropriately punished".
EDITORS NOTES
About ELSPA - http://www.elspa.com
ELSPA (The Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) was founded in 1989 to establish a specific and collective identity for the computer and video games industry. Membership includes almost all companies concerned with the publishing and distribution of interactive leisure software in the UK.
ELSPA's activities include: Official Chart and Industry Reports, Anti-Piracy UK and EU, PR and Communication, Events. More information on all these activities can be found at http://www.elspa.com.
About Software Piracy and its negative impact on both consumers and industry.
ELSPA estimates criminal gain through computer and video games piracy sits at approximately £540 million.
Piracy/counterfeiting is illegal and punishable by fines and jail sentences.
The illegal copying of software poses the very real threat of criminal prosecution and a criminal record, as well as the risk of massive personal financial loss under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Consumers have no recourse under law for faulty pirated games, which can damage hardware.
Counterfeited/pirated games are often mixed with obscene or pornographic material.
Local and national jobs are lost as result of pirate operations.
Proven links exist between many organised counterfeiting organisations and dealers in drugs and pornography.
About MCPS
The Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS), ensures its 17,000 composer, songwriter and music publisher members are paid royalties when the music they have created is recorded; CDs, DVDs, downloads, computer games and everything in between. MCPS works in an operational alliance with PRS - the Performing Right Society (the MCPS-PRS Alliance) - creating a future for music. www.mcps.co.uk. Working alongside UK enforcement agencies, the MCPS Anti-Piracy Unit investigates infringements of MCPS members' copyrights.