$3.7mil pirate DVD lab busted

By Shaun Inguanzo
AUTHORITIES who raided a Springvale home found computer hardware with the capacity to copy more than $3.7 million worth of pirated DVD movies, including hardcore pornography and Hollywood blockbusters.
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) this week said the raid was a catalyst in the fight against movie piracy, which costs the Australian film industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year in potential revenue.
Dandenong Regional Response Unit police officers assisted in the raid, seizing five computers and 17 DVD-R (recordable) burners.
Authorities also arrested a 19-year-old Springvale man.
AFACT executive director Adrianne Pecotic said police also found a quantity of illegal drugs and more than 1000 pirated optical discs, including blockbuster movies, children’s titles and hardcore pornography.
The DVD lab, which was raided on Saturday 14 January, had the capacity to copy $3.7 million worth of DVDs, assuming burners were operating for 10 hours per day, seven days per week, and had a street price of $10, Ms Pecotic said.
She said DVD movie piracy was rife in Springvale and surrounding areas, but it was not exclusive to Greater Dandenong.
Ms Pecotic said the number of markets in Victoria was far greater than in other states, making it a drawcard for overt pirate activity.
“Up until now, there have been more markets in Victoria, therefore the crime has been more obvious,” she said.
Dandenong Regional Response Unit Acting Senior Sergeant Phil Atkins said piracy in Springvale and Greater Dandenong was ongoing.
“Whenever evidence comes to light that (the illegal) DVDs have hit town, we task a team to follow that up,” he said. He said the unit worked in plain clothes, targeting markets such as the Dandenong Market for any overt pirate activities.
Ms Pecotic said the victims of movie piracy were often not Hollywood stars, but the local community.
“I think a lot of people don’t see it as harmful, but they don’t think about who the real victims are,” she said. “They think the victims are the big Hollywood studios, but they are not thinking about their son not getting a job at the local DVD store, because (the store) will be the first victim long before the big studios and stars are affected.”
Ms Pecotic said pirates often bought replicas of retail DVDs in Asian countries before copying them, but had recently turned to downloading them instead.
“It is worth pausing to think that a few extra dollars will buy a genuine disc that supports legitimate Australian businesses and their employees in every town and suburb,” she said.