Hong Kong Customs recently raided 14 tutorial centres and an office, and seized suspected infringing photocopies of past examination papers published by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA), some supplementary teaching DVDs, computers, photocopiers and binders, worth about $3.8 million. Eight persons were arrested in the operation.
The department received a report alleging that large numbers of past examination papers of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and Hong Kong Advance Level Examination were photocopied for distribution in the form of tutorial packs at some tutorial centres without the HKEAA's authorisation.
Customs officers carried out a series of operations on May 5 and 6 after investigation and raided 14 tutorial centres and an office. Some 12,000 copies of suspected infringing examination papers, 7,000 supplementary teaching DVDs, 11 computers, four photocopiers and two binders, worth a total of about $3.8 million, were seized.
Four men and four women, including a director and a manager of a company, and six responsible persons and staff members of the tutorial centres, aged between 25 and 57, were arrested. They are on bail pending for investigation.
Speaking at a press briefing today (May 7), the Group Head of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, Mr Thomas Lin, reminded those involved in running a tutorial centre not to produce and distribute copies of copyright works as tutorial materials without the authorisation of the copyright owner.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person, unless authorised by the copyright owner of a copyright work, who for the purpose of or in the course of any trade or business, possesses, sells or distributes an infringing copy of the work commits a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for the offence is imprisonment for four years and a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy.
Members of the public may call Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 to report any suspected infringing activities.
Ends/Friday, May 7, 2010
