Just a few days ago, the UK has dealt with the largest ever seizure of pirate CDs and DVDs from one factory in Southall, west London, in which around UK£400,000 worth of media (50,000 discs) and equipment was seized. This is reckoned to be Europe's largest uncovered counterfeit CD & DVD operation in one factory.
Now, the anti-piracy campaigners have revealed that piracy of DVDs is up 133% in the UK during the first half of 2005. During this first half, the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) seized 386,569 pirate DVDs produced in the UK, however imported pirated DVDs have decreased by 123,719 since last year to 661,581.
While the movie industry is very unhappy with consumers sharing its movies over the Internet, buying counterfeit DVDs not only affects sales, but also makes matters much worse by funding organised crime, which is estimated at £600 million per year from pirated DVDs alone. The anti-piracy body recons that the movie studios lost 30% of its sales due to pirated DVDs. Thanks to heystoopid for submitting the following news via our news submit:
|
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) seized 386,569 UK-made fake DVDs from January to June, as UK seizures of pirate DVDs from abroad fell. UK criminals earn £600m per year from pirate DVDs, an anti-piracy campaign fronted by TV host Jonathan Ross said. Pirate DVDs, CDs and equipment worth £400,000 were seized from a factory in Southall, west London, last weekend. |
Even though both the movie and music industry are trying to fight off online piracy with lawsuits, in my opinion, they should really put more of their efforts into fighting organised street crime rather than be fighting off those online who could easily be converted to a legitimate service. For example, chances are that those who pirate CDs and DVDs to sell on the street will continue to do so for years to come if they are given the chance. However, those who share and download music online would be far more likely to convert to a legal alternative if they are offered one that they would be happy with, yet I encounter more news about the music industry suing those sharing music than those who sell pirated CDs on the streets.
heystoopid added: Whilst reading, the BBC on line news, this article appeared in the september 12th edition, it also went on to say that the number of fake dvd's made in the UK increased, but the numbers of fakes confiscated by HM Customs and Excise, fell by 123,719 to a mere 661,581. Oh, well, with sales numbers like these, it would indicate fake dvd's/cd's must be sold in the 100's at every pub and sunday flea market in the country on a daily basis?
Source: BBC News - Film Entertainment
