Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business
Hong Kong Customs mounted a territory-wide enforcement operation codenamed "Magpie" between December 3 and 10 to combat illegal activities involving party room operators providing infringing karaoke songs to customers in the course of business.
Through intelligence analysis and with the assistance of copyright owners, Customs earlier identified a number of party rooms suspected of possessing and providing infringing karaoke songs to customers in the course of business. Customs officers then took enforcement action and raided eight party rooms in various districts, including Kwun Tong, Kowloon Bay, San Po Kong, Mong Kok, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwai Chung and Yuen Long. A total of eight sets of karaoke devices used for playing suspected infringing songs, one set of suspected infringing game console and a batch of audio and video equipment with a total estimated market value of about $240,000 were seized. Two male persons-in-charge of the party rooms, aged 27 and 42, were arrested on suspicion of contravening the Copyright Ordinance. Both arrested persons were released on bail pending the investigation. The investigation is ongoing and further arrests are not ruled out.
During the investigation, Customs found six party rooms located in industrial buildings that were suspected of breaching the lease conditions, and the cases have been referred to the Lands Department for further follow-up action.
Customs reminds business operators to comply with the Ordinance and to make enquiries to copyright owners on matters relating to the use of musical visual recordings in the course of business.
With the Christmas and New Year holidays approaching, Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to resolutely combat different kinds of infringing activities to safeguard the rights of copyright owners.
Under the Ordinance, any person, who without the licence of the copyright owner of a copyright work, possesses infringing copies of a copyright work for the purpose of, or in the course of, any trade or business with a view to it being used by any person commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.
Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
