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SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 1975
COPYRIGHT UNIT CRACKS DOWN ON RECORD PIRATES CASH REWARDS OFFERED FOR INFORMATION
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A-NEW REWARD SCHEME HAS BEEN INTRODUCED BY THE COPYRIGHT UNIT OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE TO ENCOURAGE HEMDERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ASSIST IN ERADICATING ILLEGAL FACTORIES PRODUCING PIRATED TAPES AND RECORDS.
UNDER THE SCHEME, CASH AWARDS ARE PAID TO ANY PERSON WHO SUPPLIES INFORMATION TO THE UNIT WHICH LEADS TO THE LOCATION OF A MANUFACTORY PRODUCING PIRATED MUSIC CASSETTE TAPES AND RECORDS. THE AMOUNT PAID IS IN PROPORTION TO THE VALUE OF THE RECORDING EQUIPMENT SEIZED.
RESPONSE TO THE SCHEME HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING, ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COPYRIGHT UNIT, BUT GORE PUBLIC SUPPORT WAS NEEDED TO CRACK DOWN ON THE ILLEGAL TRADE, HE OVID.
SINCE THE REWARD SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED LAST JANUARY, THE UNIT HAS SUCCESSFULLY RAIDED TWO ILLEGAL CASSETTE TAPE MANUFACTURING SET-UPS IN WANCHAT AND NORTH POINT ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY CITIZENS.
THE TWO SEPARATE RAIDS RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE OF ABOUT $38,000 WORTH OF PIRATED MUSIC TAPES AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT. TWO MEN AND A WOMAN WERE ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SEIZURES.
REWARDS WORTH SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WERE PAID TO THE TWO INFORMANTS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE COURT PROCEEDINGS.
THE COPYRIGHT UNIT WAS SET UP IN DECEMBER 1973 TO TAKÉ OVER FROM THE POLICE COMMERCIAL CRIME OFFICE THE TASK OF TRACKING DOWN PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE PIRATED TAPE AND RECORD BUSINESS. THE UNIT'S TASK FORCE COMPRISES ONE SENIOR INSPECTOR AND SIX INSPECTORS.
THE MAIN CHORES OF THE UNIT ARE INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTS AND CARRYING OUT SPOT-CHECKS ON SHOPS SELLING TAPES, RECORDS AND BOOKS.
COMPLAINTS MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT ARE INVESTIGATED BY PLAIN-CLOTHES INSPECTORS AND WHEN SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IS COLLECTED, RAIDS AGAINST THE ALLEGED OFFENDERS ARE CARRIED OUT.
HOWEVER, THE UNIT HAS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO DRING SUSPECTED OFFENDERS TO COURT, MAINLY BECAUSE ARTICLES SEIZED MUST BE PROVEN BY EXPERTS TO BE PIRATED BEFORE OFFENDERS CAN BE CHARGED WITH PIRACY.
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