Raid Routs CD Piracy

CD Cases

Following information that an illegal CD copying business was being run from a house in Middleton, Police, Trading Standards officers and staff from the ELSPA (Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) raided the premises last week.

The raid follows a lengthy investigation by the MCPS Anti-Piracy Unit - the organisation that monitors illegal use of the works of composers and songwriters.

A 'library' of master discs, music CDs, DVDs, software and games were discovered in the raid. It is understood that this library formed the basis of material that was being copied to be sold via the Internet.

A man was arrested will face possible charges under the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988, the Trademarks Act 1994 and the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.

A computer, CD writers and other equipment used to produce copies, together with genuine CDs, blank recordable CDs, labels and CD sleeves were also found.

Information received indicated the occupier was copying CDs at selling them on the Internet at a fraction of the genuine price. Officers seized items used in the production of the copied discs, together with documentation, pending further investigation.

Laurence Bell, Rochdale Council's Chief Trading Standards Officer said, "Making fake CDs and DVDs is not a victimless crime. The products are generally sub-standard and there are links to organised crime. Also, these activities jeopardise the living of legitimate traders"

Nick Kounoupias of the MCPS Anti-Piracy Unit welcomed news of the latest raid. He said, "This was a significant counterfeiting operation and I'm grateful to Rochdale Trading Standards for their rapid response and professionalism in this raid."

Anyone with information about counterfeiting can contact - anonymously - the MCPS Anti-Piracy Unit on 0207 306 4053 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. ELSPA (the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) was founded in 1989 to establish a specific and collective identity for the British computer and video games industry.