XN000022-1982-03-08 — Page 7

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1982

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WARNING AGAINST COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

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THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND CONTROLS, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN TODAY (MONDAY) STRESSED THAT TOUGH ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST INFRINGEMENT OF ANY COPYRIGHT REGARDLESS OF ITS NATURE.

HE WAS SPEAKING DURING A CEREMONY AT WHICH A TRADING COMPANY DONATED $10 000 TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE WELFARE FUND IN APPRECIATION OF THE SERVICE'S EFFORTS IN TRACKING DOWN OFFENDERS PIRATING THE COMPANY'S CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

RECEIVING THE DONATION FROM MISS C.H. KOH, CHAIRMAN AND GENERAL MANAGER OF HONG KONG KING YOKO LTD, MR JORDAN SAID: +IT IS A SAD THOUGHT THAT THOSE WHO WOULD ENGAGE IN STEALING COPYRIGHT WOULD EVEN STOOP TO INFRINGING COPYRIGHT OF CHILDREN'S PICTORIAL BOOKS. NOTHING IS BEYOND THE REACH OF THESE GRASPING PIRATES, NOT EVEN THINGS INTENDED FOR CHILDREN'S ENJOYMENT.+

HONG KONG KING YOKO LTD COMPLAINED TO THE COPYRIGHT DIVISION IN MAY 1981, ALLEGING THAT ITS CHILDREN'S PUBLICATIONS HAD BEEN PIRATED. AS THE PUBLICATIONS ORIGINATED IN JAPAN, INVOLVING VARIOUS SERIES AND TITLES, IT TOOK THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS SOME TIME TO VERIFY THEIR COPYRIGHT. HOWEVER, THE NEXT MONTH THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE RACKET WAS ARRESTED AND SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED.

+ IN THE PRESENT CASE THE OFFICERS' TASK WAS NOT AN EASY ONE, GIVEN THE VARIOUS PROCESSES CONCERNED IN MAKING PIRATED COPIES OF THE BOOKS IN SEVERAL STAGES AND AT DIFFERENT PLACES, SAID MR JORDAN.

+BUT THE OFFICERS' ENERGETIC EFFORTS WERE REWARDED NOT ONLY WITH THE ARREST OF THE PRINCIPAL CULPRIT BUT THE ARREST OF ANOTHER SUSPECT; THE SEIZURE OF OVER 50 000 PIRATED COPIES - SOME ON THE POINT OF DELIVERY TO THE NEWSPAPER HAWKERS IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING - AND THE DETENTION OF MANY FILMS AND OTHER MATERIALS,

+THE HIGHLY-PROFESSIONAL AND THOROUGH WAY THIS CASE WAS DEALT WITH BY OFFICERS OF THE COPYRIGHT UNIT WAS TYPICAL OF HONG KONG'S APPROACH TO ANY INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT OR COUNTERFEITING OF MERCHANDISE MARKS.

+THE NUMBERS OF THOSE WHO WOULD ENGAGE IN SUCH MALPRACTICES - WHICH ARE THEFT AND DECEPTION WHICHEVER WAY ONE LOOKS AT IT ARE HAPPILY VERY SMALL AMONG THE VAST MAJORITY OF DECENT HONEST TRADERS IN HONG KONG,+

THE WELFARE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING CERTAIN BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE. IT IS FUNDED BY SUCH SUMS AS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEEMS APPROPRIATE, AND FROM TIME TO TIME MAY RECEIVE DONATIONS.

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