Man charged after copyright operation - Ashfield

A man has been charged with copyright offences after a police operation in Sydney's west yesterday.

Following an extensive investigation by police from Ashfield Local Area Command, as well as specialist investigators, about 12.10pm yesterday (Wednesday 1 January 2012), police executed a Commonwealth search warrant at a unit in Holden Street, Ashfield.

Inside the premises police arrested a 42-year-old man and seized USB devices, computers, and an amount of cash and documents relating to alleged copyright offences involving pay TV channels and movies.

The man was taken to Burwood Police Station and charged with possess device with intent to be used to make infringing copy and distribute infringing copy of a work with intent to trade/profit.

The Lane Cove man was granted conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on 22 February 2012.

Police allege the man was involved in a large scale and sophisticated operation, based in China, which supplies illicit access to copyrighted material involving subscription TV channels and movies from multiple companies.

Ashfield Local Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Enrico Coffen, says that anyone with an illicit subscription to pay TV needs to realise that it is a crime and that persons dealing in this trade will be investigated and prosecuted

"We will be alleging the revenue generated by this illicit operation was about $70 million per year. So it seems there are a lot of people out there who seem to think it is an acceptable thing to do.

"Persons identified with any involvement in this trade need to realise it is an offence which is punishable by criminal sanctions like large fines or jail. Anyone who is accessing pay TV illegally is advised to immediately cease the subscription or risk legal consequences. It's the same as stealing," Detective Inspector Coffen said.

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• Ashfield
• Piracy
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