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Pirate website shut down, 2,000 DVDs seized

1 September 2007 5:21 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 16 comments

Last week, Victorian police raided the home of a 30 year old man in South East Melbourne and seized 2,000 pirated DVD discs and computer equipment allegedly used to manufacture illegal discs. The man was operating several websites based in the United States and Germany, selling music videos, movies and games to customers in Australia and overseas, claiming they were "original".

Among the movies seized were Transformers and Die Hard 4.0, which have not been released on DVD (or any other release outside theaters) yet, and the music seized included U2 and AC/DC. The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) and Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI) (and arm of the ARIA) ran the investigation that led to the raid.

"With the assistance of the Victorian Police, copyright owners have shut down this illegal website and intend to bring the operator before the courts," said Sabiene Heindl, General Manager of MIPI. "Internet-based music piracy is a crime that can be detected and has consequences. Illegal operators can�t hide just because they are using the internet as their marketplace."

Copyright infringement charges for selling infringing materials have been laid and the man will face court over the coming month. Penalties for copyright infringement are up to $60,500 and 5 years imprisonment per offense. "This raid again highlights the benefits of close cooperation between industries, as well as the commitment of the police in pursuing those who trade in illegal products on the internet," said Adrianne Pecotic, Executive Director of AFACT.

Source:
Press Release

Permalink to this article

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Discuss this article!
Bucknekid (Newbie) 1 September 2007 6:02
So wonder what clued in these master detectives?? Maybe that one of the movies he was selling wasn't even released on DVD yet? Way to go guys, you're really stomping out major crime here. What ever you do don't worry about real crimes (rape, drugs, ect, ect.) [ + quote]
Dela (Staff Member) 1 September 2007 6:24
*Originally posted by Bucknekid:* So wonder what clued in these master detectives?? Maybe that one of the movies he was selling wasn't even released on DVD yet? Way to go guys, you're really stomping out major crime here. What ever you do don't worry about real crimes (rape, drugs, ect, ect.) I just "had" to include the part about transformers and die hard 4 being part of it right under where i said this guy was telling customers they were originals ;-) [ + quote]
muccione (Newbie) 1 September 2007 6:32
*Quote:* *Originally posted by Bucknekid:* So wonder what clued in these master detectives?? Maybe that one of the movies he was selling wasn't even released on DVD yet? Way to go guys, you're really stomping out major crime here. What ever you do don't worry about real crimes (rape, drugs, ect, ect.) I just "had" to include the part about transformers and die hard 4 being part of it right under where i said this guy was telling customers they were originals ;-) The dumb asses that bought the movies thinking that they are originals should be put in jail also. How stupid can you be? [ + quote]
Jlhfit (Senior Member) 1 September 2007 9:32
1 down... uhh... 150000000 to go......HAHA [ + quote]
Jlhfit (Senior Member) 1 September 2007 9:32
1 down... uhh... 150000000 to go......HAHA [ + quote]
Jlhfit (Senior Member) 1 September 2007 9:32
1 down... uhh... 150000000 to go......HAHA [ + quote]
bomber991 (Newbie) 1 September 2007 10:19
*Originally posted by Jlhfit:* 1 down... uhh... 150000000 to go......HAHA Wow, you really think there's 150 million people in the world selling pirated discs online? [ + quote]
jetyi83 (Member) 1 September 2007 12:15
nope, but id bet there was at least 100 million people making pirated copies. [ + quote]
muccione (Newbie) 1 September 2007 12:28
*Originally posted by jetyi83:* nope, but id bet there was at least 100 million people making pirated copies. I would NEVER!!!!! ROFLMAO [ + quote]
Kerpalguy (Newbie) 1 September 2007 12:33
Goodness, just listen to the acronyms: AFACT, MIPI, ARIA. Where's OU812? You would think they nabbed a major terrorist with a weapons arsenal and all they did was pop a small low life (stupid) pirate looking to make a quick buck. I am so impressed with these agencies (yawn). They're fighting a lost battle - wake up and come up with new ideas instead of fighting fire with fire. [ + quote]
muccione (Newbie) 1 September 2007 12:55
*Originally posted by Kerpalguy:* Goodness, just listen to the acronyms: AFACT, MIPI, ARIA. Where's OU812? You would think they nabbed a major terrorist with a weapons arsenal and all they did was pop a small low life (stupid) pirate looking to make a quick buck. I am so impressed with these agencies (yawn). They're fighting a lost battle - wake up and come up with new ideas instead of fighting fire with fire. I81B4U!!!! [ + quote]
albino92 (Member) 1 September 2007 18:38
The world will end because of thing like this! lol [ + quote]
Tashammer (Newbie) 2 September 2007 0:26
The festering bunch of pus suckers...oh, sorry, i meant to say the media and entertainment industries. Well if they are going to be wallies and run copying as a business that milks listeners and viewers of all the hard earned dollars well, yes well i guess they better pay membership fees to ARIA AFACT, MIPI et al. Silly buggers. Now coasters, that's another matter. If burning coasters was a crime then i would be serving several life sentences. Anyway i find it easier to go next door and either sit and watch or borrow what they have rented . There is no way i would want to keep copies of some of the crud that is available. Apart from the family videos, now they are good - even the bad ones are good. Early B & W movies , now those i would like a copy of. [ + quote]
Unfocused (Junior Member) 2 September 2007 11:10
*Quote:* which have not been released on DVD (or any other release outside theaters) yet Where these cam copies or studio pre screeners? I still haven't read about anybody busting the people who put the screeners out there... [ + quote]
RNR1995 (Inactive) 8 September 2007 8:34
That because people that get screeners are ususally RICH and Connected how must JUSTICE can you afford? People that SELL pirated material should go to jail. Period. But I agree there are better crimes to solve, gee like the murder that happens in my local city EVERY DAY! And unless your a cop that got shot, there is a slim chance they will ever catch the culprit! [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 10 September 2007 0:22
This guy needed to get caught. What kinda person would copy movies that are still in the cinemas and pass them off as originals wat a nutt. [ + quote]