Customs Mounted a 2-day Operation Against Game Console Retail Shops Selling Infringing Game Discs and Memory Cards

Date: 27/07/2007

A complaint was received from the representatives of copyright owners alleging that some game console retail shops sold infringing game discs and memory cards.

Customs officers from the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau mounted a 2-day operation code-named “Gundog” on 27 and 28 July 2007.

As a result, officers seized from 13 game console retail shops in Wan Chai, Sham Shui Po, Lam Tin, Tsueng Kwan O, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po and Fanling a total of 2700 infringing game discs, 420 infringing memory cards and 7 sets of computer. The seizure was worth about $290,000.

16 men and 2 women, aged between 17 and 39, were arrested. They were 8 shop proprietors and 10 staff. They were released on bail pending investigation.

Summer holiday is usually the prime season for game console retail shops. To deter piracy, Customs officers have stepped up enforcement action against shops selling infringing game discs and memory cards.

Under the Copyright Ordinance, anyone who knowingly possesses an infringing copy of a copyright work in the course of business which consists of dealing in that infringing copy commits a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $50,000 per article and four years’ imprisonment.

Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau
Customs and Excise Department
Ends/Saturday, July 28, 2007
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