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Customs officers of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau yesterday (May 3) raided a shop in Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei which sold pirated optical discs to tourists.
They seized about 8,000 pirated optical discs, worth about $200,000, which were mainly newly released films.
A 57-year-old Hong Kong man was arrested. He is now on bail pending further investigations.
Investigations showed that the shop displayed genuine optical discs as camouflage, and sold pirated discs only to tourists. Potential customers were touted from the street and led to the two closed compartments at the rear end of the premises to purchase pirated discs.
Acting on information, Customs officers subsequently mounted the operation in Temple Street yesterday.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, a person commits an offence if he, without the licence of the copyright owner, possesses for the purpose of, in the course of, or in connection with any trade or business with a view to committing any act infringing the copyright. The maximum penalty is $50,000 fine per infringing copy and a four-year imprisonment.
Ends/Thursday, May 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:57
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