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Customs officers of the Anti-Internet Piracy Team yesterday (June 5) cracked a piracy case in which a local company sold counterfeit goods to overseas buyers through an overseas Internet auction site.
They seized about 1,800 pieces of suspected counterfeit goods, including 300 batteries for cameras and video-cameras, 100 pieces of memory cards and accessories. The total value was about $170,000.
Two men - one of them a 42-year-old company director -and a woman were arrested. They are on bail pending further investigation.
Acting on complaints from trademark owners that counterfeit cameras and video-cameras batteries and accessories were sold via an overseas Internet auction site to buyers in Europe and the United States, Customs officers launched an in-depth investigation.
It was found that a local company touted counterfeit goods to overseas buyers via Internet. Goods purchased were mailed to buyers after they placed order and made payment on the Internet.
Customs officers yesterday arrested a 18-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, who were employees of the company, when they attempted to send a counterfeit goods parcel in Kwun Tong Post Office.
From the parcel and a subsequent search of the company in Kwun Tong about 1,800 pieces of counterfeit goods were seized.
Acting Group Head (Intellectual Property Investigation (Operations)), Mr Chiu Yuk-hung, today (June 6) said "Hong Kong Customs would continue taking stringent enforcement against Internet piracy and mount round-the-clock surveillance on the Internet."
He appealed to the public not to get involved in piracy activities.
People are encouraged to report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Hong Kong Customs by calling the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Any person who contravenes the Trade Descriptions Ordinance is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Ends/Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:59
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