[Cops stage historic anti-software piracy raid]
JAMAICA'S FIGHT against the piracy of
intellectual property took a major step forward on Monday afternoon when the
Organised Crime Unit snagged a major Corporate Area computer retailer in an
anti-software piracy snap raid. The raid was the first of its kind in Jamaican
law enforcement. Up to press time, no information was available from the
Constabulary Communications Network (CCN), but a source told The Gleaner that
several computers and other items were seized from a computer re-seller who is
expected to be charged for illegal software use.
Head of the organised crime investigation unit. Senior Superintendent Reggie
Grant, confirmed the historic raid, and
warned: "We are in the educational programme re piracy in general, piracy in
film, music and so on, but while we are educating the public, we are also
targeting the major players and this in itself, will help to advance the
education process because once everyone understands what is going on, and the
penalties involved, they will fall in line. There will definitely be more raids
in the future. "General manager of the Intellectual Property Service Centre Tony
Laing estimates 'the value of the underground Jamaican piracy industry -
including music and software - across Jamaica to be about US$1 million.
Extensive training is being undertaken to provide police officers island wide
with the
background to effectively monitor the misuse of intellectual property in
Jamaica. Mr. Grant said things which people now take for granted, such as the
underground business of copying cassettes and CDs, would become serious issues.
Under the 1999 amendment of the Copyright Act, convicted bootleggers face hefty
fines of up to $100,000, or prison terms of up to Five years, or both. A number
of locals have received training in intellectual property related areas by the
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The police, customs officers,
judges and members of private sector.