Victorian police congratulated on biggest pirate disc seizure in Australia

Sydney, 23 January 2008

Late yesterday, the Victorian Police raided three residential premises in Sunshine and St Albans in Melbourne’s Western suburbs, seizing close to half a million pirate optical discs and 100 optical disc burners. One of the premises was raided last year at which time 200,000 optical discs and over 70 burners were seized. The seizure of pirate Western and Asian films, music and software represents the largest in Australia to date.

Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI) and Verifact Investigations, representing a number of Asian film industry copyright owners commended the Victorian Police on their commitment to tackling pirate activity in the state.

Sabiene Heindl, General Manager of MIPI said: “This raid is another example of the excellent work of the Victorian Police force proactively targeting optical disc piracy. There is an increasing recognition on behalf of law enforcement that piracy involves organised criminal syndicates and requires targeted enforcement action.”

Jarrod Bowditch, Director of Verifact said “The Victorian Police are to be congratulated on their swift enforcement action. The police raid sends a clear message that criminals that profit from the creativity of others will not be tolerated.”

It is understood that the Victorian Police acted on advice from members of the public to raid the premises after they were tipped off about suspicious behaviour. A male and female have been charged with copyright offences.

Criminal penalties for copyright infringement are up to $60,500 and 5 years imprisonment per offence for individuals, and up to $302,500 for corporations.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About MIPI

Music Industry Piracy Investigations Pty Ltd (www.mipi.com.au) is the anti-piracy organisation for the Australian music industry. MIPI members include large and small music labels through their association ARIA and singers and songwriters through their association AMCOS.