ILLEGAL WEB SITE OFFERING THOUSANDS OF MOVIE AND TV SHOWS CLOSED DOWN

25 FEBRUARY 2010

ACT: On 16 March, ACT Policing, a division of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with support from investigators of the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) served a warrant on a residential premises in Belconnen, ACT, where they seized approximately 6,500 pirated movie DVDs and computer equipment used for manufacturing illegal DVD copies.

AFACT investigators located a website which was subsequently found to be offering for sale over 5,000 different movie, TV and pornographic titles. Movie titles included Avatar, which is still showing in Australian cinemas, Charlie and Boots, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and television series Kath and Kim, Doctor Who, and Heroes. Pirated DVDs were being sold at $6 each.

A 49-year-old male is currently assisting police with their inquiries.

Following the raid, Neil Gane, Executive Director AFACT, said “We acknowledge the important work carried out today by ACT Policing in closing down this website and DVD burning operation. Piracy is not a victimless crime: It directly impacts local businesses like cinemas and DVD stores and the people they employ. AFACT is committed to helping protect the intellectual property rights of film and television makers, and the many legitimate businesses supported by the screen entertainment industry.”

Actor Roy Billing, known for his role as Aussie Bob Trimbole in Underbelly, and many Australian movies like Charlie and Boots, Unfinished Sky and Razzle Dazzle, said that he was astonished at the level of movie piracy in Australia: “Every time a movie pirate sells a pirated DVD they are putting money in their own pocket and stealing from the creative community that made the movie, the investors who put their money into it – including the Australian tax payer – and the mums and dads who run fair-dinkum cinemas and DVD stores. It’s got to stop.”

On 24 November 2009 in Sydney, AFACT and Crime Stoppers hosted an event to destroy an estimated 780,000 pirated DVD movies, the result of NSW Police, Victoria Police and Federal Police operations to counter movie piracy. Also attending the destruction ceremony were local DVD store owners and Australian actors Susie Porter (East West 101, The Jesters) and Roy Billing.

Web sites selling illegal DVDs and TV box sets can be identified by any of the following characteristics:

If the cost of the DVD is way below what you’d expect to pay for a genuine DVD.
If some of the movie titles being offered for sale are still screening at Australian cinemas.
If the website is not displaying an A.B.N or A.C.N number.
If the website’s F.A.Q may state that all of the DVDs sold are “All Region” and will play on any DVD player.

Members of the community can provide information on movie piracy to Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or AFACT by calling 1800251996.

About AFACT

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

In 2009, State and Federal Police conducted 69 raids involving movie piracy and seized 194,233 pirated DVDs. They also seized 749 burners capable of producing over 18 million pirated DVDs a year with a potential street value of over $94million.

Australia’s copyright industries are the 3rd largest contributors as a percentage of GDP in the world, second only to the US and UK.

In 2006/07 they contributed 10.3% GDP to Australia’s economy [up 66% since 1996], represented 8% of our employment and generated 4.1% of total exports.

The film and TV industry in Australia alone contributed $4.4 billion to GDP and supports 50,000 jobs, including small businesses under threat from movie and TV piracy, and independent cinemas, video rental stores and film and television producers across the country.

In 2007, the film and TV sector contributed an estimated $1.8 billion in tax to the Australian Government.