| FACT:
Who we are
When it was established in 1983,
FACT’s primary purpose was to protect the
United Kingdom’s film and broadcasting industry
against counterfeiting, copyright and trademark
infringements. FACT did this by representing the
interests of its members in the face of the steady
influx of illegal – or pirated - films and
videos.
Today, the Federation is still
the leading representative trade body that is
committed to protecting the interests of the audio-visual industry
in the fight against pirate film and DVDs and
the increasing threat from online piracy.
In this fight, FACT works closely
across the UK with Police services, Trading Standards,
HM Revenue & Customs, Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the Department
for Work and Pensions. FACT has a close association
with other enforcement bodies such as the British
Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Entertainment
and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA)
FACT also has an important
role in ensuring that the government and public
understand the threat to the UK’s film and
television industry and to the community at large
from the growing threat of DVD and online piracy.
Film piracy in the UK is:
- A business generating over £270m a year for criminals
- A crime which affects other
people and the wider community – involving
benefit fraud, people smuggling, drugs and other
serious criminality
- A real crime, punishable
by up to 10 years imprisonment
The seemingly innocent purchase
of a cheap DVD from an irregular source can therefore
have far reaching effects. For further examples
of the effects of DVD piracy in the UK, please
go to our Media Centre and view the latest case
studies and statistics.
While the Federation is not
a statutory body, it is accepted as a prosecution
authority in its own right and facilitates the
investigation and prosecution of those involved
in this type of crime.
“DVD and online
piracy must be recognised as a crime of growing
national significance. In 2006 alone FACT seized
over 1.5 million pirate DVDs and our in house forensic
services team assisted the Police, Trading Standards
and HM Revenue & Customs in examining close
to 1 million DVDs.
Our aim is to help create
an effective deterrent to film piracy in the UK
by increasing public awareness of this type of
criminal activity that can have a destructive
influence on local communities.
Through our technical
and forensic capabilities FACT continues to support
law enforcement agencies to increase the number
of investigations of the principal figures involved
and to squeeze and close down their sales and
distribution networks.
With your help and support
we can do more. The biggest thing you can do is
not to buy them.”
Kieron Sharp
Director General
Federation Against Copyright Theft
|
