SAINT-GEORGES-DE-BEAUCE – Last month, Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Quebec and New Brunswick raided a number of homes and businesses "in order to put an end to the illegal activities of people involved in the production, reproduction and distribution of counterfeit items," says the RCMP.
In seven Quebec searches, more than 5,000 movies, 500 games, 100 computer software programs, 500 CDs and 80,000 batteries, all of which were counterfeit, as well as seven pirated satellite receivers have been seized.
Five people were arrested and will be summoned to appear in court on charges of making and distributing infringing copies of copyright works under the Copyright Act, and decoding a subscription programming signal under the Radiocommunication Act.
The investigation was conducted by the investigators of RCMP Beauce-Amiante Detachment Federal Investigation Section.
In Bathurst, N.B., the RCMP detachment there, with the assistance of the Bathurst Police Force and the Canadian Motion Picture Association, executed two search warrants and arrested two men and one woman. They also seized hundreds of pirated DVDs, CDs music, computer software, dubbing equipment and illegal satellite gear. The commercial value of the N.B. seizure is over $200,000.
Charges are expected and the investigation is continuing.
“The CAB is pleased to see the on-going efforts by the RCMP to address this serious growing illegal activity that takes over hundreds of million of dollars a year from the Canadian broadcasting system, from artists, writers, copyright holders, programmers and broadcasters,” said Glenn O’Farrell, Canadian Association of Broadcasters president and CEO.
“Enforcement is only part of the solution. The CAB, on behalf of its members, has requested that the federal government amend the Radiocommunication Act to increase penalties for these crimes. This will help to serve as a real deterrent, and stop dealers from profiting from and encouraging signal theft."
