£1 MILLION FAKE DISC HAUL FOUND IN MERSEYSIDE
Six pirates arrested in Sefton’s biggest ever seizure of counterfeit games and films
Wednesday 2 February 2005/... A massive £800,000 of fake computer games, including the latest games releases 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas', "FIFA 2005" and "Need for Speed: Underground 2", formed the majority of a one million pound seizure confiscated by authorities last Wednesday, deemed Sefton's largest ever haul of counterfeit goods.
ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association), working with Sefton Trading Standards, Merseyside Police and FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) swooped on the Aintree computer fair, resulting in six arrests.
Two individuals were also discovered allegedly 'chipping' consoles, an illegal practise since October 2003 that allows the public to play copied games on their games consoles.
Roger Bennett, director general of ELSPA said: "ELSPA would like to thank Sefton Trading Standards and Merseyside Police for their sterling efforts in this operation. Computer and video games piracy causes a massive financial loss to the industry, so it is rewarding to see such a large amount of illegal product removed from the marketplace."
Andrew Naisbitt, manager of Sefton Trading Standards commented: "This is the biggest ever haul of fake goods in the borough. Sefton takes piracy very seriously and will not hesitate to take court action against those responsible.
"Not only are consumers short-changed when they buy poor quality fake goods but legitimate retailers also lose business".
ELSPA (The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) represents the interests of the UK games publishers. It has a dedicated anti piracy unit with investigators based across the UK and often works closely with the Police and Trading Standards to combat computer games piracy.
Anyone with any information on computer games piracy should contact the police, their local Trading Standards Office or call the ELSPA anti piracy unit hotline on 08705 133405.
EDITORS NOTES
About Software Piracy and its negative impact on both consumers and industry
It is estimated that over £2 billion is lost every year by UK industry to games software counterfeiters.
Local and national jobs are lost as result of pirate operations.
Piracy/counterfeiting is illegal and punishable by fines and jail sentences.
Counterfeited/pirated games are often mixed with obscene or pornographic material.
Consumers have no recourse under law for faulty pirated games, which can damage hardware.
Proven links exist between many organised counterfeiting organisations and dealers in drugs, pornography and terrorism.
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.
Photo Caption
Sefton Trading Standards manager Andrew Naisbitt with the £1m haul which filled two transit vans.