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Hong Kong Customs has appealed to youngsters to respect intellectual property rights and not to commit piracy-related offences, particularly Internet piracy offences.
The department reminded the public that distributing infringing copies of copyright works on the Internet was a serious offence.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, it is an offence for a person to distribute infringing copies of copyright works otherwise than for the purpose of, in the course of, any trade or business to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the owner of the copyright, without the licence of the copyright owner. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and four years' imprisonment.
The Anti-Internet Piracy Team (AIPT) of Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 10) in Sau Mau Ping cracked a case in which pirated songs were provided for free download from a personal website.
During the operation mounted in a residential unit in Sau Mau Ping, Customs officers arrested a 16-year-old secondary student, who is now on bail pending further investigation.
They also seized from the premises a desktop computer with broadband Internet devices, worth about $7,700.
Acting on a complaint from a copyright owner, Customs officers launched intensive investigation and mounted the operation yesterday.
Investigations showed that over 600 pirated songs and more than 20 films were available on a personal website for free download by Internet users. The personal computer had been converted into a server by means of "Dynamic IP Re-direction Service" provided by a US website.
Since the set-up of the first AIPT in early 2000, Hong Kong Customs has so far cracked nine cases involving distribution of copyright works on the Internet. A total of $180,000 worth of goods were seized and 13 men were arrested.
Ends/Thursday, May 11, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:26
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