Sting nabs captain in a sea of pirate DVDs
The Australian Federal Police have taken down a kingpin of the pirate DVD industry, arresting a 34-year-old man on a string of charges.
A statement from the AFP says the man from the Melbourne suburb of Springvale has been charged following a nine month investigation into his illicit DVD burning business. Police allege he manufactured and sold pirated DVDs worth approximately $300,000 a year.
Officers raided the man’s house late last week, seizing more than 15,000 DVD's and 53 DVD burners.
He has been charged with five counts under the Copyright Act 1968 including single counts of; commercial-scale infringement prejudicing a copyright owner, making pirated material commercially, selling or hiring out pirated material, possessing pirated DVDs for commerce and possessing a device for making infringing copies.
The man has also been charged with proceeds of crime offences.
His offences carry a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment
Detective Superintendent Ian Bate said the investigation and arrest shuts down a significant player in the DVD pirating game.
"The AFP takes these large-scale cases of copyright theft very seriously and this should be a warning to others who may be manufacturing and selling counterfeit goods that you are likely to get caught out," Superintendent Bate said.