On 26 November 2008, the Federal Attorney General, Hon Robert McClelland MP, launched the report Making the intangible tangible: the economic contribution of Australia’s copyright industries at Parliament House, Canberra.

The report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, commissioned by the Australian Copyright Council, assesses the contribution to the economy of Australia’s copyright industries.

Its findings include that in 2006/2007 Australia’s copyright industries:

• employed more than 837,000 people (8 percent of the nation’s workforce) – up 21 percent since 1996;
• generated $97.7 billion in economic activity (10.3 percent of GDP) – up 66 percent since 1996; and
• accounted for $6.8 billion in exports (4.1 percent of all exports) – up 6.3 percent since 1996.

View the Full Report at copryright.org.au

Melbourne, 18 November, 2008 - A Melton man and woman have been handed down a criminal conviction and a 12 month good behaviour bond for an array of charges surrounding the seizure of pirated video games. 

The couple appeared at Sunshine Magistrate Court, Victoria on November 11 and pleaded guilty to all laid trademark offences resulting from a raid by Melton Police on June, 3 2008. 

The two offenders who were caught with over 1000 pirated video and computers games plus hardware were ordered to complete community service and pay fines for infringements. 

CEO of the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA) Ron Curry, said, “The criminal conviction handed down was a positive one for the industry should act as a warning to other potential games counterfeiters.” 

“Theft of intellectual property is a serious offence and police around the country are taking a strong stance against individuals or organisations who are involved in importing, distributing and selling illegal pirated games,” Ron Curry said. 

 “Video and computer games are now played by over 68 per cent of Australians and piracy leads to faulty or inappropriate game content, without the safeguard of a warranty.  

Another issue created through piracy is pirated games don’t carry classification markings, therefore parents are unaware of the content being played, including content that is unsuitable for children,” Ron said. 

People who wish to report incidents of game piracy can call the IEAA’s Anti-Piracy Hotline on 1800 20 40 19 or email antipiracy@ieaa.com.au 

The IEAA encourages consumers to purchase games and consoles from legitimate sources and not to take any legal risks by purchasing or downloading illegal pirated games. For more information relating to game piracy visit www.ieaa.com.au 

For more information please call Cameron Donovan, Espresso Communications 0408 662 007

Pirate music, movies, video games and counterfeit products seized from popular Sydney market in continuing crackdown on rogue traders.

SYDNEY – NSW Police, assisted by investigators from the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI), Trade Mark Investigation Services (TMIS) and the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA) raided the Preston ‘Trash & Treasure Market’ in southwest Sydney today. 

The police haul included thousands of pirate discs together with boxes of counterfeit products. 

The successful raid follows active surveillance of targeted markets around Australia by police and industry investigators. On 9 November 2008, Victoria Police seized more than 10,000 pirate movies, music and video games and arrested two men in the crackdown on pirate and counterfeit goods at Victoria’s largest market Caribbean Gardens and Markets. Police also seized a quantity of cash. 

AFACT’s Director of Operations Neil Gane, said: “This is a significant raid conducted by the NSW Police and reinforces the key message that the authorities will not tolerate such criminal activity. 

“DVD piracy is not a victimless crime. These traders are ripping off the hard work of others for maximum profit, and illegal operations such as these put at risk the legitimate community businesses such as local cinemas and DVD stores. Kudos to the NSW Police for this successful operation.

 “Whenever someone creates and sells an illegitimate copy of a movie or television show, they are stealing money from the many thousands of Australians who work hard to give us these films and programs to enjoy. We congratulate the State Police for continuing to defend the jobs of the victims of these crimes.”

“As more Australians head to markets looking for good deals this Christmas, they  need to be wary of ‘too good to be true’ offers on dodgy CDs and other entertainment products to avoid being ripped off,” said Dean Mitchell, Investigations Manager of MIPI. “If a CD has an excessive number of tracks, spelling mistakes, distorted graphics, or has a blue, green or gold CD backing – there’s a good chance you are getting duped by a counterfeiter.” 

Criminal penalties for copyright infringement are up to $60,500 and/or five years imprisonment per offence for individuals, and fines of up to $302,500 for corporations. Police can also issues on-the-spot fines of $1320. 

To help police identify and shut down movie and music piracy operations, members of the public are invited to report suspected piracy to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. For help in identifying pirated discs, the public can view or download the relevant consumer guides from www.afact.com.au and www.mipi.com.au. 

For interviews with Neil Gane, AFACT, contact: 

Dave Harding: (02) 9997 8011

After hours: 0431 858 502

For interviews with Dean Mitchell, MIPI, contact: 

Samantha Hales: (02) 8569 1177

After hours: 0439 605 765

About AFACT

AFACT acts on behalf of the 50,000 Australians directly impacted by copyright theft including independent cinemas, video rental stores and film and television producers across the country. AFACT works closely with industry, government, police and educationalinstitutions to address copyright theft, and to protect the interests of the film and television industry. 

In the 12 month period from October 2007 to October 2008, AFACT assisted state and federal police on enforcement actions involving film piracy which resulted in the seizure of 969,514 pirated DVDs and 761 burners capable of producing over 19 million pirated DVDs a year with a potential street value of over $95 million. 

AFACT operates an anti-piracy hotline: 1800 251 996.

info@afact.com.au

www.afact.com.au

About MIPI

Music Industry Piracy Investigations Pty Ltd is the anti-piracy organisation for the Australian music industry. MIPI represents close to125 music labels through their association, ARIA and over 1,700 music publishers and songwriters through their association, AMCOS. 

MIPI operates a free-call anti-piracy hotline at 1800 06 16 16.

 mipi@mipi.com.au

www.mipi.com.au

ENDS

MELBOURNE – Victorian Police have today raided market traders blatantly selling illegal music and movies at one of Victoria’s largest markets, the Caribbean Garden Markets in Scoresby.  The police operation, assisted by industry anti-piracy groups, seized more than 10,000 optical discs containing pirated music, movies and games.  

It is alleged that a number of market traders were selling thousands of burnt optical products containing music, movies and games every trading day in the Caribbean Market, which operates Wednesdays and Sundays, with some traders inviting customers to put in orders for pirated titles to be collected on subsequent market days. 

 The successful raid follows active surveillance of targeted markets around Australia by a number of anti-piracy groups, including Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI), the Australian Federal Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) and the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA).  Despite attempts by industry groups to work with market operators, traders continue to openly offer illegally copied CDs, DVDs and games for sale to the public, putting the market operators at risk of liability for authorising piracy.  This flagrant disregard for the law has prompted law enforcement agencies around Australia to raid the markets to bring an end to these illegal operations.

 Amongst the haul of 10,000 pirate discs were illegal copies of albums by Mariah Carey and Chris Brown,popular movies Babylon and Burn After Reading and video games Mario Collection and NBA Live. 

Dean Mitchell, Investigations Manager of MIPI, said: “Market operators have a significant role to play in ensuring that pirate music is not sold through their markets. They must be vigilant and take a proactive stance against illegal traders. Whilst industry groups have repeatedly demonstrated that they are prepared to work with market operators, today’s police raid confirms that criminal action will be taken at markets that do not heed the warnings”. 

Neil Gane, AFACT Director of Operations, said: “Every pirated movie or TV show sold at the Caribbean Market steals money from the legitimate businesses that employ the tens of thousands of Australians directly impacted by movie piracy.  They are the victims of this crime.” 

Ron Curry, IEAA CEO, said, “The IEAA takes the protection of intellectual property very seriously. It’s vitalthat we defend our industry so it can continue to deliver high quality, creative interactive entertainment. Copyright theft is against the law and we applaud the police for their successful operation at the Caribbean Garden Markets in Scoresby.” 

Criminal penalties for copyright infringement are up to $60,500 and five years imprisonment per offence for individuals, and up to $302,500 for corporations.  Police can also issues on-the-spot fines of $1320.  Market sellers have been fined up to $22,000 for selling pirate CDs and DVDs at the Flemington Markets in Sydney. 

Members of the public can help police identify and shut down music and movie piracy operations by reporting piracy at www.mipi.com.au or www.moviepiracy.org.au.  Consumer guides to help members of the public identify whether or not DVD or CDs are pirated are available to view and download from www.mipi.com.au and www.afact.com.au.

For interviews with Dean Mitchell, MIPI contact:

 Samantha Hales – (02) 8569 1177

After hours:  0439 605 765 

 About MIPI

 Music Industry Piracy Investigations Pty Ltd (www.mipi.com.au) is the anti-piracy organisation for the Australian music industry. MIPI represents close to 125 music labels through their association, ARIA and over 1,700 music publishers and songwriters through their association, AMCOS.  MIPI operates a free-call anti-piracy hotline at 1800 06 16 16. 

For interviews with Neil Gane, AFACT contact:

 Stephen Jenner- (02) 9997 8011                      

After hours – 0409 776 196                                                                                                                                         

About AFACT

 AFACT works closely with industry, government, police and educational institutions to address copyright theft and protect the interests of the movie and television industry as well as the interests of Australian movie fans.

 Between June 2007 to June 2008, state and federal police conducted 67 raids involving movie piracy and seized over 934,000 pirated DVDs. They also seized 762 burners capable of producing over 19 million pirated DVDs a year.

 AFACT acts on behalf of the 50,000 Australians directly impacted by copyright theft including independent cinemas, video rental stores and movie and television producers across the country. AFACT has its own anti-piracy hotline: 1800 251 996.

 info@afact.com.au

www.afact.com.au

For interviews with Ron Curry, IEAA contact:

Corrie McLeod, Espresso Communications – 0419 526 848

www.ieaa.com.au

Sydney, Australia – 7 November 2008 – More than 450 pirated video games have been seized from a Geelong residence following a successful raid by Victorian Police.

A Geelong man will appear in Geelong Magistrates Court January next year and will face up to 10 charges relating to the selling of pirated games. 

Geelong Senior Sgt, Jock Southern said, “Geelong Regional Response Unit seized 200 X-Box 360 and 277 Wii games and receipts, indicating the sale of several games consoles.” 

“The seizure of pirated games, DVD’s and equipment is a serious offence and police around the country are taking a strong stance against individuals or organisations who are involved in importing, distributing and selling illegal pirated games,” Senior Sgt Southern said. 

CEO of the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA) Ron Curry, said the seizure of goods is part of a nationwide crackdown on piracy and should act as a warning to other potential games counterfeiters. 

“Video and computer games are now played by over 68 per cent of Australians and piracy leads to faulty or inappropriate game content, without the safeguard of a warranty.

 Australia has a world-class games industry, yet piracy is costing the industry an estimate $100m in lost sales, as well as hundreds of full and part time jobs,” Curry said. 

The IEAA encourages consumers to purchase games and consoles from legitimate sources, and not to take any legal risks by purchasing or downloading illegal pirated games. For more information relating to game piracy visit www.ieaa.com.au. 

People who wish to report incidents of game piracy can call the IEAA’s Anti-Piracy Hotline on 1800 20 40 19 or email antipiracy@ieaa.com.au