MARKHAM, ON, May 4 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police from the
Greater Toronto Area Federal Enforcement Section (FES) executed four search
warrants at the Pacific Mall on Steeles Avenue in Markham. Seized as a result
of the April 27, 2005 searches were in excess of 30,000 music/movie DVDs, 3000
optical discs (games), 1600 multi-game cartridges and approximately $36,000 in
Canadian currency.
In an effort to educate businesses in the Pacific Mall, RCMP spoke to
management and staff to explain that some of the products they were selling
were counterfeit. In the past investigators have found some individuals are
unaware of the counterfeit nature of the products they are selling.
"The theft of intellectual property is a serious crime which negatively
impacts legitimate businesses by unfair competition," said Constable Judy
Laurence of the FES. "The reason the RCMP undertook this initiative is two-
fold. It sends a message to counterfeiters that their actions will not be
tolerated and it also gives business owners who may not have known that they
were breaking the law by selling counterfeit products, the chance to
discontinue their criminal activity."
The RCMP was assisted in these searches by experts from the Entertainment
Software Association, Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association,
Canadian Recording Industry Association and representatives from numerous
other Intellectual Property Rights holders to ensure the immediate
identification of counterfeit products.
"On behalf of our member company motion picture studios, the Canadian
Motion Picture Distributors Association would like to thank the RCMP for their
enforcement efforts of last week at the Pacific Mall," said Serge Corriveau,
Vice President, Anti-Piracy Operations. "Motion picture piracy costs the movie
industry $3.5 to $4 Billion (US) a year worldwide, and this activity also
presents a tremendous loss of taxable revenue for legitimate Canadian
businesses."
Police estimate the value of the goods seized to be approximately
$800,000. No arrests were made and the investigation (s) is (are) on-going.
- - - - -
We've only just begun.
Greater Toronto Area Federal Enforcement Section (FES) executed four search
warrants at the Pacific Mall on Steeles Avenue in Markham. Seized as a result
of the April 27, 2005 searches were in excess of 30,000 music/movie DVDs, 3000
optical discs (games), 1600 multi-game cartridges and approximately $36,000 in
Canadian currency.
In an effort to educate businesses in the Pacific Mall, RCMP spoke to
management and staff to explain that some of the products they were selling
were counterfeit. In the past investigators have found some individuals are
unaware of the counterfeit nature of the products they are selling.
"The theft of intellectual property is a serious crime which negatively
impacts legitimate businesses by unfair competition," said Constable Judy
Laurence of the FES. "The reason the RCMP undertook this initiative is two-
fold. It sends a message to counterfeiters that their actions will not be
tolerated and it also gives business owners who may not have known that they
were breaking the law by selling counterfeit products, the chance to
discontinue their criminal activity."
The RCMP was assisted in these searches by experts from the Entertainment
Software Association, Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association,
Canadian Recording Industry Association and representatives from numerous
other Intellectual Property Rights holders to ensure the immediate
identification of counterfeit products.
"On behalf of our member company motion picture studios, the Canadian
Motion Picture Distributors Association would like to thank the RCMP for their
enforcement efforts of last week at the Pacific Mall," said Serge Corriveau,
Vice President, Anti-Piracy Operations. "Motion picture piracy costs the movie
industry $3.5 to $4 Billion (US) a year worldwide, and this activity also
presents a tremendous loss of taxable revenue for legitimate Canadian
businesses."
Police estimate the value of the goods seized to be approximately
$800,000. No arrests were made and the investigation (s) is (are) on-going.
- - - - -
We've only just begun.
