A 30-year-old Indian man was arrested today for allegedly selling pirated music following a police raid on a video/music and snacks store in South Auckland.
Police raided the Manurewa store and arrested its proprietor for allegedly selling pirated copies of Michael Jackson CDs.
Acting on information from a member of the public passed on to the Recording Industry Association, the police executed a search warrant at the shop.
As well as about 20 Michael Jackson and Eminem CDs believed to contain pirated material, the police also seized a computer with optical disc burning capabilities.
A member of the public reported the shop to RIANZ in July. During a joint investigation with the police, RIANZ investigators visited the store and bought pirated copies of Thriller and Bad among others.
“Pirate CD sellers are criminals,” RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith said.
“Not only are they stealing from artists and songwriters, they are also taking sales from legitimate CD retailers and removing cash flow for reinvestment in NZ music by local record labels.”
Mr Smith said RIANZ believed by enforcing the law it was highlighting the scale of the problem.
“Piracy is an enormous problem for our industry. We prosecute in order to educate about copyright, to get the message out that it’s wrong to make or sell pirated material.”
Mr Smith said RIANZ was actively monitoring the sale of pirate CDs nationwide.
“The police are right behind us on this and they really have done a great job in supporting our investigations and taking action against those infringing the law.”
The penalty for offending is up to $150,000 and / or up to five years imprisonment per offence.
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