Crime doesn’t pay

by | Nov 24, 2008 | November

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Excellent work by the Southern African Federation Against Copyright Theft (SAFACT), in conjunction with the SAPS, SARS, Customs, DTI and Prosecution staff personnel has resulted in a record breaking successful quarter.  Statistics for the 3rd Quarter 2008 have broken all records, except in respect of seizures of hardware.

In a number of instances the results for Q3 exceeded the entire year’s results for 2007.

This sort of success does, however, create administrative problems for SAFACT and the courts in particular, requiring innovative solutions if the momentum is to be maintained at a level necessary to break the back of DVD based piracy in our major centres.
Summary
Q3
2008 YTD
Q3
Investigations
330
777
161
Enforcement Actions
304
682
195
Arrests
244
449
168
Court Matters
467
920
220
Admission of Guilt
178
178
N/A
Convictions
65
65
37
Content Seizures
111, 009
289, 395
92, 334

Enforcement Actions and Arrests continue to increase as Police conduct ongoing sweeps of CBD’s of Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban against hawkers and street vendors trading in pirated movies, TV content and games.

Late last month (October 2008), inspectors from the Department of Trade and Industry Monitoring and Enforcement Unit carried out 6 raids against film and game pirates in Durban over a 3 day period.

Shops in West Street, Wilsons Wharf and stalls at a night market were raided and hundreds of pirated DVD’s confiscated. SAFACT was disappointed to find pirated copies of local hit movies ‘Jerusalema’ and ‘Hansie’ among the product seized and has called on the public to boycott the criminals selling pirated movies and games.

Piracy in Durban and surrounding areas is of serious concern to the industry and it is hoped that increased enforcement efforts will contribute to legitimate businesses in the region being able to benefit from the upcoming peak holiday season.

SAFACT appreciates the commitment of the DTI in its efforts to protect South African companies and artists involved in the motion picture and interactive console and pc game sectors.

For more information on film and game piracy, and the R400 million it is costing legitimate business, please visit www.safact.co.za.

About SAFACT

The Southern African Federation Against Copyright Theft (SAFACT) is an industry funded, not for profit organisation, established in 1999 to represent the interests of its members in the cinematographic film exhibition and distribution industry.

One of SAFACT’s primary responsibilities is to protect the intellectual property rights of its members.

SAFACT fulfils this responsibility by:

  • Advocating respect for intellectual property rights
  • Increased enforcement of intellectual property rights
  • Assisting in increasing the States commitment and capacity to successfully prosecute copyright theft
  • Undertaking initiatives towards improving the legislative environment in respect to intellectual property
  • Create an environment in which counterfeiting and piracy is socially unacceptable