Press Release of Hong Kong SAR Government on Friday
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/2007 ... 170241.htm
Customs seizes copyright-infringing foldable bicycles
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Hong Kong Customs officers in an operation yesterday (August 16) targeted copyright-infringing foldable bicycles sold in shops and auctioned on the Internet.
After extensive investigation based on information provided by a copyright owner, officers of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau yesterday raided eight shops located in Mong Kok, Cheung Sha Wan, Tai Po, Ma On Shan and Fanling.
They seized 29 copyright-infringing foldable bicycles worth $66,700 and arrested nine men and a woman, aged between 41 and 60. Nine of those arrested shop owners and one was a shop attendant.
Officers of the Anti-Internet Piracy Team suspected that there were copyright-infringing foldable bicycles auctioned on a local auction website.
With the assistance of an Internet service provider, Customs officers located the computer involved and last night in Mong Kok arrested two men, both aged 31.
In a follow-up investigation, the officers seized a foldable bicycle and two sets of computer, worth $14,300, on the residential premises of the two men, in Mong Kok and Tuen Mun.
All those arrested are on bail pending further investigations.
The Divisional Commander of the Copyright Investigation Division, Mr Koon Hon-chuen, today (August 17) reminded shop owners to stay away from dubious sources when they were sourcing goods for their shops. "If in doubt, shop owners should approach the respective authorised dealers of the copyrighted goods."
Under the Copyright Ordinance, anyone who knowingly possesses an infringing copy of a copyright work in the course of business commits a criminal offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 per article and imprisonment for four years.
Ends/Friday, August 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:26
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