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News / Archive - November 2006
7th November 2006
THREE ARRESTED IN SOUTH BELFAST RAID
Police in South Belfast have seized a substantial quantity of suspected counterfeit goods.
The seizure followed a planned search of premises in King Street today by local uniformed officers and officers from the Intellectual Property Crime Unit supported by a representative from FACT - the Federation Against Copyright Theft.
Three men have been arrested.
The haul included fireworks, DVDs, a wide range of clothing and footwear.
Inspector Robert Murdie from South Belfast has said that this operation sends out a clear message that police will be pursuing anyone suspected of being involved in selling counterfeit goods.
"Many counterfeit goods are of poor quality which do not perform or last as long as is expected and coming up to Christmas - that is only going to bring disappointment. People should also bear in mind - there is no chance of a refund.
"The sale of counterfeit goods not only damages the business of the legitimate manufacturer of the goods - it damages local legitimate businesses selling the products."
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7th November 2006
FOUR YEAR SENTENCE FOR DVD PIRATE
- ONE OF STRONGEST SENTENCES YET IN UK-
In one of the strongest ever sentences for film piracy in the UK, Zhong Li, age 35, and a Chinese national, was sentenced to four years imprisonment last week at Southwark Crown Court. He was recommended for deportation at the end of his sentence.
Li, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty of the following, all sentences to run concurrently:
1. Section 10 (1) and (3) of the video recordings act 1984 - 12 months
2. Section 107 (1) (C) of the copyright, designs and patents act 1988 - four years
3. Section 92 (2)(B) and (6) of the Trade Marks Act - 12 months
4. Section 2 obscene publications act - four years.
Li was arrested by officers from Southwark Borough of the Metropolitan Police at an address in Asylum Road, London SE15 in June 2006 following information that the premises were being used as a DVD factory.
Approximately 30,000 pirate DVDs and their covers were seized, with approximately 40% of this being hardcore pornographic material, as well as £2000 in cash. Ledgers relating to the sale of the DVDs were also seized.
Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, commented: “This result is a significant one as it shows that the Courts are prepared to punish more severely those who aim to profit from film piracy. The strong custodial sentence sends a very strong reminder to film pirates at every level that this is a serious crime type being dealt with increasingly harshly.”
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14th November 2006
CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER RECEIVES 15 MONTH JAIL SENTENCE FOR FILM PIRACY OFFENCES
Gary Fenn, age 35, from Ilford, Essex was sentenced yesterday to 15 months imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court for Conspiracy to Defraud the film industry and another 15 months for Conspiracy to Defraud the music industry – both sentences to run concurrently.
Fenn is currently serving a five year jail term for making indecent images of children and yesterday’s sentence is to run consecutively. The Judge recommended that seven and a half months be served in prison and the remainder on licence.
Also sentenced yesterday at Snaresbrook was Fenn’s co-defendant Paul Tooley, age 31, from Chadwell St Mary, Essex, who received a jail term of 10 months for Conspiracy to Defraud the film industry and 10 months for Conspiracy to Defraud the music industry (both sentences to run concurrently). The Judge also made a recommendation that he serve five months in prison and five months on licence.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to these Conspiracy charges. Whilst Tooley is a co-conspirator in this case, he was not involved in the making of indecent images of children.
The case was prosecuted by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and the organisation was awarded full costs by the Court. In addition, all property seized, including computers and equipment, was ordered for destruction.
Both Fenn and Tooley were manufacturing pirate DVDs and CDs and selling them on local markets and via advertisements and were arrested in May 2004.
Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General commented: “I am pleased that another FACT prosecution has been so successful. Both defendants were involved in a film and music piracy operation that was making them thousands of pounds and was deliberately intended to defraud legitimate FACT member companies.
This is also another example of the other very serious criminality with which film piracy can be associated. FACT is increasingly able to evidence this associated criminality and bring it to the public’s attention. ”
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