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 Scots
are the biggest customers for pirate DVDs in the UK, with one in three
owning counterfeit discs. Around 25% of consumers admit they would buy
illegal copies of Hollywood movies and TV shows if they could save
money. More than a third claimed not to know piracy was illegal despite
regular police raids on market stalls.
Studios are now so concerned about the level of counterfeiting in
Scotland, they have agreed to back an amnesty to urge fans to surrender
illegal discs. The public will be offered the chance to swap pirate
copies for legitimate DVDs as part of a roadshow, which will tour major
cities, including Glasgow, this summer.
Figures show the proportion of customers who bought DVDs in Scotland last year was 10% higher than the rest of the UK.
Lavinia Carey, director general of the British Video Association, said:
"The aim of the amnesty campaign is to make consumers in Scotland aware
that DVD piracy is not a victimless crime.
"That's why we are asking people to bring their pirate DVDs along to be
publicly destroyed. There is no question of anyone getting into
trouble," she said. "When you buy an illegal DVD, your money may well
go directly into the pockets of criminals."
Universal Pictures and Warner Home Video UK are backing the amnesty,
which started in Edinburgh this week. The Federation Against Copyright
Theft estimates piracy costs the movie industry more than £700million a
year.
Some traders in Glasgow earn £1000 an hour from selling fake DVDs, CDs
and computer games. Investigators from film company DreamWorks said
they were "amazed" at the number of films on sale at the Barras market,
when they visited Glasgow in 2003. Many films sell for around £5 and
have not even been released in UK cinemas.
Police in January smashed a counterfeit DVD ring after seizing discs,
which included copies of blockbuster King Kong, worth around £300,000
from a Glasgow flat. Earlier this year FACT, which represents Hollywood
studios, reported "major progress" in driving criminals out of the
Barras.
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