Public Servant Lifestyle

The home video industry is warning children to avoid being ripped off by crooked traders selling pirate DVDs. With major films now on show, including Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and Superman Returns, children are being urged to save their pocket money for the real thing.

According to a survey conducted by IPSOS, around 78 million pirate DVDs were sold in 2005 and the largest source, with 33% of sales, is markets and car boot sales. Children and their parents should be aware that although a pirate DVD may look like a bargain, the end product may be very disappointing, with no bonus features, dodgy sound and a wobbly picture recorded from the back of a cinema.

The money paid for a pirate DVD often goes straight into the pockets of criminals involved in people smuggling, benefit fraud and violent crime. Children are being advised to think twice before purchasing a pirate DVD as their hard earned pocket money could be helping fund criminal activities.

Low Risk

Lavinia Carey, director general of the British Video Association (BVA) and director of the industry campaign says: "We all know how disappointing it is when we buy something that doesn’t work and with a pirate DVD there is a high risk that it will be an inferior copy or even the wrong film altogether. There is also little chance of getting your money back if you are not satisfied. Criminals see DVD piracy as a low risk, high profit crime that is just one of many associated illegal activities, so saying yes to DVD piracy is saying yes to crime on your streets. Buying pirate DVDs also puts pressure on the film industry and video retailers, meaning less of the films we enjoy.”

Below are a few tips on how to avoid being ripped off by the DVD pirates:

Be careful when buying DVDs from internet auction sites where fakes are often peddled. If you do think you’ve been sold a fake, report it to the web site and FACT immediately to stop others getting ripped off

If a film is still showing at the cinema and you come across a DVD copy of it, it will be fake. The best quality official DVD will be available soon the way the director wanted you to see it

Pirate DVDs often come in plastic sleeves with none of the consumer advice and sleeve detail of a genuine copy, so if it has spelling mistakes and looks dodgy, it probably is!

Try to buy your DVDs from well-known high street or on-line retailers. As a general rule, street sellers, markets and car boot sales will be the places where you are most likely to be sold a fake and these traders also deal in pornography

If you see young people fronting a DVD stall, it may not be just a case of helping out Dad, but children being used to avoid the law, so take care not to be conned

If you see DVD piracy taking place, you can report it anonymously to the DVD piracy hotline on: 0845 60 34567 and your local council

The Industry Trust for IP Awareness was registered in 2004 as a non-profit making company with the objective of tackling the growing menace of copyright theft, with the latest figures showing the total loss to the whole audio-visual industry of £719 million.

A recent tragic example of the criminal activity connected with people trafficking is the story of the 21 Chinese illegal immigrants who tragically lost their lives whilst picking cockles in Morecambe Bay. Police investigations found that not only were the men being sent onto the beaches but they were also being forced to sell pirate DVDs on the streets. One of the gang masters who smuggled the men into the country was found guilty of eleven trademark offences - as well as manslaughter.

For more information on piracy and intellectual property issues, visit the following resources:

The Industry Trust for IP Awareness

The Federation Against Copyright Theft

British Video Association

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