XN000022-1980-04-21 — Page 7

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MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1980

RECORD PIRACY ON WAY OUT

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PIRATED TAPES AND RECORDS HAVE ALMOST COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED FROM LOCAL SHOPS AND STREET STALLS AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUOUS EFFORTS BY THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

+OVER 99 PER CENT OF THE RECORDINGS BEING SOLD ON THE MARKET ARE NOW GENUINE,+ SAID MR LO MAN-HUNG, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT IN CHARGE OF THE COPYRIGHT PROTECTION SUB-DIVISION,

HE NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF COUNTERFEITS SEIZED LAST YEAR DROPPED MARKEDLY FROM 220 683 IN 1975 TO ABOUT 4 000.

HE ATTRIBUTED THE SHARP DECREASE AS MUCH TO THE EFFORTS OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS AS TO THE VIGILANCE OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS.

IN APPRECIATION OF THEIR GOOD WORK, VARIOUS PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS HAVE MADE DONATIONS TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE WELFARE FUND,

ONE OF THEM WAS THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PRODUCERS OF PHONOGRAMS AND VIDEOGRAMS (IFPI) WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN INFORMATION SOURCES LEADING TO PROSECUTION OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTS. THE FEDERATION ALSO PROVIDES PROOF OF COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP IN COURT TO SUPPORT PROSECUTIONS.

LAST YEAR, 34 PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED OF VARIOUS OFFENCES AGAINST THE COPYRIGHT ORDINANCE. THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE SEIZURES, INCLUDING RECORDING EQUIPMENT, AMOUNTED TO $27 500.

WITH THE MARKET NOW FIRMLY IN THEIR HANDS, RECORDING COMPANIES CAN NOW PLAN PRODUCTION WITH MORE CONFIDENCE. AS A RESULT, THE QUALITY AS WELL AS THE DIVERSITY OF RECORDINGS ARE NOW DEFINITELY BEING IMPROVED, MR LO ADDED.

APART FROM RECORDS AND TAPES, COPYRIGHT PROTECTION OFFICERS ALSO CRACKED DOWN ON BOOK PIRATES. OVER 10 400 BOOKS WITH A MARKET RETAIL VALUE OF $106 587 WERE SEIZED IN 13 CASES LAST YEAR.

ONE OF THE TWO PEOPLE CONVICTED WAS FINED $20 000 AND SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT, SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS.

MR LO REMINDED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT NOT ONLY COUNTER- FEITERS ARE PENALISED, THOSE WHO POSSESS ANY PIRATED RECORD, TAPE OR BOOK FOR SALE MAY ALSO BE PROSECUTED.

THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR MANUFACTURERS IS $50 000 AND TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. THOSE WHO POSSESS PIRATED ARTICLES FOR SALE MAY BE FINED $1 000 FOR EACH SINGLE ITEM AND JAILED UP TO ONE YEAR.

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