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Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 11) raided seven second-hand bookshops which were found selling suspected pirated textbooks claimed to be second-hand textbooks. During the operation, Customs officers seized a total of 185 suspected pirated Chinese textbooks for secondary schools, valued at about $27,000. Seven men and five women aged between 18 and 45, comprising five shop owners and seven salespersons, were arrested.
Acting on information concerning the sale of suspected pirated textbooks, Customs had conducted an investigation and found that some bookshops were selling suspected pirated Chinese textbooks for secondary schools.
Officers of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau yesterday took enforcement action against the targeted shops. Twelve people were arrested and a total of 185 suspected pirated Chinese textbooks for secondary schools were seized after raiding seven second-hand bookshops located in Mong Kok, Kwai Chung, Tai Po, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Tin Shui Wai.
During the operation, Customs officers found that the bookshops involved were selling suspected pirated textbooks claimed to be second-hand textbooks. A small quantity of genuine textbooks were mixed with the pirated ones to confuse customers. When customers requested second-hand textbooks, the bookshops would offer the pirated books at a lower price, claiming that they were unused second-hand books. The investigation is ongoing.
The Group Head of Intellectual Property Investigation (Operations), Ms Sandra Tam, stressed at a press briefing today (August 12) that the sale of pirated books is a serious offence. She urged the owners and salespersons of bookshops not to engage in such illegal activities. In case of any suspicion on textbooks, members of the public should enquire with the publishing company or copyright owners and report it to Customs promptly.
Ms Tam also said that the success of the operation was attributed to the support and co-operation of the copyright owners. As the new school term is coming, Customs will continue to reinforce the enforcement against such infringing activities.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person selling an infringing copy of a copyright work is committing a criminal offence. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for four years and a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy.
Anyone who comes across any suspected piracy activities is encouraged to report them to Customs by calling the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, August 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:14
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