Media Centre / Press Releases

Industry body rewards local anti-piracy work
29 July 2005

Presentation of Award to Perth and Kinross Trading Standards and Keith Payne, Kinross Sunday Market by FACT

The Federation Against Copyright Theft, FACT, is delighted to announce that it has made a joint anti-piracy award to Keith Payne, Manager of Kinross Sunday Market, and Derek Hutchison, Principal Trading Standards Officer, on behalf of Perth and Kinross Trading Standards.

FACT, established in 1984 to protect the film industry against copyright and trademark infringements, works across the UK, conducting investigations to assist statutory enforcement agencies in their anti-piracy work and prosecutions of the illegal import, manufacture and distribution of films.

With Britain being the largest market after the USA for pirated DVDs, the 7,000 legal UK markets regularly targeted by sellers where illegal DVDs are widely available.

According to FACT’s senior investigator in Scotland, John McGowan, “Scotland sadly has had a particularly infamous reputation for piracy in its markets, and FACT has not been slow in condemning market operators where action to tackle these illegal sales has been slow or lacking.

“ We are naturally delighted therefore to be able today to highlight an example of a well-run, vibrant market in the middle of Scotland that simply will not tolerate any invasion by those wishing to benefit from illegal products”.

Recognising the highly determined and focused work carried out by both Keith Payne and Perth and Kinross Trading Standards in keeping the market free of illegal products, Raymond Leinster, Director General of FACT commented:

“ We congratulate both parties on the work they have done here; they clearly understand the detrimental effects illegal trading has both on the market and on the wider community. Not only do the pirates steal the product of other people’s efforts, and deprive legitimate local businesses of revenue, sellers of pirated DVDs are also all too frequently linked to other serious crimes – be it hardcore pornography, the exploitation of children and young people, benefit fraud, violent crime and illegal drugs.

“ In purchasing pirated DVDs cheaply in the markets, buyers are often unwittingly supporting wider criminal activity in their local area and beyond”.

The vigilance and total lack of tolerance of illegal trading by Keith Payne has paid off, with his Saturday car boot sale constantly fully subscribed and his Sunday Market one of the busiest small town markets attracting customers from a wide area. He knows that, should the need arise, he has the full and swift backing of Perth and Kinross Trading Standards to call on; any emerging problem is then dealt with immediately and effectively.

Both Keith and Perth and Kinross Trading Standards have received a certificate to commemorate their achievements to date, and each received a cheque in support of the Children’s Hospice Association of Scotland, their chosen charity.

– ENDS–

Notes for editors

The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) is a trade body established in 1983 to protect the film industry against copyright and trademark infringements in the United Kingdom.

Although not a statutory authority or public body, FACT operates as a private company within the spirit of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and the Data Protection Act 1984 and 1998.

FACT’s investigative staff conducts inquiries throughout the UK and assist statutory enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the illicit import, manufacture and distribution of film product. FACT has been accepted as a prosecution authority in its own right.

Last year, 2,913,459 pirate DVDs were seized, bringing the total for 2004 close to the 3 million mark.

This year’s figures show a 41 per cent increase in seizures for the first quarter versus the same period in 2004. The 2004 figure represents a 207 per cent increase on the first half of 2003, and a rise of 1,768 per cent on the same period in 2002.

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