Latest News / Archive - November 2007

14th November 2007

FACT SUPPORTS NORTHERN IRELAND ANTI-COUNTERFEITING CAMPAIGN

FACT was pleased to support the latest initiative by the Organised Crime Task Force in Northern Ireland at an event attended by Paul Goggins, Policing and Justice Minister and Chair of the Organised Crime Task Force. He stated that “Buying fakes funds real crime and lines the pockets of criminals”.

He was speaking at yesterday’s launch of the Organised Crime Task Force’s Christmas advertising campaign which is aimed at highlighting the link between buying counterfeit goods and funding crime.

He said “Before you buy fake goods think about what you are really paying for? You could in reality be funding drugs, violent crime and criminal lifestyles by purchasing a dodgy DVD or a pair of fake designer jeans. That’s not much of a bargain and it’s not something that most people will want to be associated with.

Eddy Leviten, Head of Communications at FACT added: “FACT is delighted to support this campaign from the OCTF as it highlights the way that organised criminal networks are using audio-visual piracy to generate substantial profits as well as fund other criminal activities.

We have a strong working relationship with PSNI and in particular with the IP Crime Unit and we continue to see the benefits of this cooperation across Northern Ireland.”

The campaign is funded by the Northern Ireland Office, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Federation Against Copyright Theft, and includes funding from the PSNI Assets Recovery Fund.

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14th November 2007

EBAY COUNTERFEITER JAILED

A 38-year old woman from Penrith, Cumbria was given a six month jail sentence at Penrith Magistrates Court today.

Helen Louise Sharkey, of Chestnut Close, Penrith had earlier pleaded guilty to 18 charges of breaching trade mark and copyright law, in a case brought by Cumbria Trading Standards.

The court heard that Sharkey was copying films and selling them to order over the internet, initially using eBay to advertise but then also using direct email selling to her existing client base. The matter came to light when FACT’s Internet Investigations Team became aware of Sharkey's activities and purchased eight counterfeit DVD films in May 2006.

When they received the copied films, FACT reported their findings to Cumbria Trading Standards who, accompanied by officers from Cumbria police, executed a warrant on Sharkey's house. Here, they found two copying towers for making counterfeit discs, 600 'master' film discs, over 33,000 MP3 music files and over 5,000 CD and DVD cover artworks.

Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria Trading Standards, said: "I hope that the sentence imposed today will act as a deterrent to others who are tempted to think that copying film or music discs is a quick and easy way to make money.

"The penalties available to the court are substantial and custodial sentences are increasingly imposed by the courts in the battle against counterfeiters."

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added: "The court has clearly shown that strong penalties can be imposed on those seeking to steal films and TV programmes and use them to generate substantial criminal profits.

"There is no doubt that this person was running a criminal business and I would like to thank Cumbria Trading Standards and Cumbria Police for their diligence in bringing this case to justice."

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