|
Wicks targets bootleggers with £5 million crackdown
|
|
Trade and Industry Minister, Malcolm Wicks, has called time on bootleg film, music and game dealers. Speaking to the Intellectual Property Crime Group in London he confirmed that, from 6 April, new powers under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, backed up with £5million new funding, will be at the disposal of Trading Standards Officers and other UK enforcement agencies.
Mr. Wicks said: "The UK film, music and game industries are among the most creative and innovative in the world, but peddlers of counterfeits are costing those industries up to £9 billion a year.
The taxpayer is also losing out to the tune of £300 million. It's a serious offence, whether committed by small-scale hawkers or international crime
organisations. |
"From 6 April, there'll be an additional 4,500 pairs of Trading Standards eyes watching counterfeiters and pirates. This will mean more surprise raids at markets and boot sales, more intelligence, more prosecutions and more criminals locked up. IP criminals should know that the UK is not a safe place. Their risk of 10 years' imprisonment and unlimited fines is very real and from this date forward a markedly higher risk."
Bringing into force Section 107a of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 was a recommendation of last year's Gowers Review of Intellectual Property. It will make enforcement of copyright infringement the responsibility of Trading Standards and give enforcement officers the power to make test purchases, enter premises and inspect and seize goods and documents.
|
