United Kingdom
[GB] New Unit to Combat Film Piracy
IRIS 2006-4:1/24
David Goldberg
deeJgee Research/Consultancy
A unit to combat film piracy has just been established as a joint venture between the Metropolitan Police and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT).
The Film Piracy Unit has been established within the Police's Economic and Specialist Crime Command and “will investigate those individuals and organizations involved in the illegal activity in the area of film piracy” e.g., the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit film products. Where such individuals or organizations have profited from such activity, the confiscation powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 may be brought into play.
The Unit will also collate information on trends and activity in this area. However, the Unit will operate initially for a year. It aims to become “the `centre of excellence' for the investigation of film piracy offences and, a source of advice, guidance and support to other police forces in respect of such investigations.”
References
- “Met joins forces with FACT to target film crime”, press release of 23 February 2006
- http://cms.met.police.uk/news/policy_organisational_news_and_general_information/partnerships/met_joins_forces_with_fact_to_target_film_crime
- “Metropolitan Police Film Piracy Unit”, press release of 23 February 2006
- http://www.fact-uk.org.uk/site/about/metpolice.htm
This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.