XN000022-1975-09-26 — Page 4

-

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1975

HEAVIER PENALTIES PROPOSED FOR COPYRIGHT OFFENCES

******

THE COURT WILL BE EMPOWERED TO IMPOSE HEAVIER PENALTIES ON PERSONS CONVICTED OF HAVING IN POSSESSION FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES INFRINGING COPIES OF COPYRIGHT WORKS OR PLATES USED OR INTENDED TO BE USED FOR THE MAKING OF INFRINGING COPIES.

THE

THIS IS ONE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF A NEW BILL COPYRIGHT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1975 - --PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S (FRIDAY) GAZETTE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION.

THE BILL PROPOSES THAT THE MAXIMUM FINE WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED IN THE CASE OF AN INFRINGING COPY, TO BE $1,000, AND IN THE CASE OF A PLATE, $50,000.

UNDER THE PRESENT LAW, A FINE ONLY MAY BE IMPOSED ON A FIRST CONVICTION OF AN OFFENCE OF HAVING IN POSSESSION FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES INFRINGING COPIES OF COPYRIGHT WORKS OR PLATES. THE BILL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF REMOVING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN FIRST AND OTHER OFFENDERS SO THAT A FIRST OFFENDER WHO POSSESSED INFRINGING COPIES MAY BE LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO IMPRISONMENT FOR 12 MONTHS.

IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR A HEAVIER MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF TWO YEARS FOR THE MORE SERIOUS OFFENCE OF POSSESSION OF PLATES FOR DUPLICATING PURPOSES. ANOTHER PROVISION IS THE FORFEITURE OF ANY ARTICLE SEIZED BY AN AUTHORISED OFFICER WHICH IS USED IN CONNECTION WITH AN OFFENCE UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE OR THE COPYRIGHT ACT.

14

1