Tina Kennedy
South Peace News
Technology has allowed for a growing piracy industry and High Prairie is no stranger to it.
Serge Corrveault, an investigator with the Canadian Motion Pictures Distributors Association, says the very first seized DVD was found in Calgary Alberta-making the province the birth place of DVD piracy investigation.
"That's also something new we have to go back to corner stores . . . now they're selling pirated DVDs."
Corrveault was surprised to learn of the May charges against Young Yoo, operator of Red Basket in High Prairie. Typically the CMPDA is involved at the very initial stages of an investigation. They work with RCMP and police forces throughout Canada. When an investigation begins, the CMPDA is the agency analyzing DVDs to see if they are burned or pressed and ultimately to confirm if they are pirated.
Yoo's business and home were subject to a search warrant and High Prairie RCMP seized approximately 1,000 of what they describe as unauthorized DVDs.
It's a growing industry, says Corrveault. It began with VHS tapes in the 80s. With the advent of the Internet, increased technology and relatively cheap way of reproducing the movies, the industry has grown over recent years to an estimated $3.5 to 5 billion worldwide.
It's not easily ignored , he adds. It's more an obscure company in a different country that feels the pinch. Small mom and pop businesses renting and selling videos really feel the impact as piracy has a trickle down effect.
"The problem we're facing is that there's lots more DVDs coming out . . . that's having a real major impact on not only the movie industry but the video stores."
Christine Zahacy, co-owner and operator of JJ Video City, says that although they can't measure it, piracy has a definitive impact.
Often times people talk about downloading movies or getting their hands on the recent hit movie. Frequently, they find it acceptable or are oblivious to the crime.
"It's a huge issue that people don't think is wrong," says Zahacy.
Corrveault says there are several ways people access recent movies. Sometimes it's as simple as bringing a video camera into a viewing and uploading the video onto the Internet when it's over.
Others download it using any number of different search software or databases and later burn them.
Once the DVDs are burned, they can be found anywhere, adds Corrveault.
"This year we're seeing a lot in flea markets."
In an industry that's estimated to gross $5 billion worldwide, the CMPDA and others aligning themselves in the piracy battle, expect to see an explosion in this year's data.
It's important to remember that those investigating the crimes are only aware of a fraction of what's actually happening out there.
It's not companies or businesses who have access, it's every home and every computer.
Conceivably, anyone downloading music or movies can sell them one way or another.
Northern Alberta is no different than any other urban area. If anything, says Corrveault, they can get away with more.
There are no investigators checking stores or specialty video gaming venues to see if there are pirated copies on shelves.
When they do get caught, that's when the convicted realize the importance of their crimes.
For one copy of a pirated movie, a guilty party could very well pay a $25,000 fine.
In each instance in Canada where piracy charges have resulted in convictions, the fines have varied depending on circumstances, says Corrveault. Most fines are averaging at approximately $1,000 per copy or instance.
"But now we're seeing less than that because sometimes it depends on their deals with the Crown . . . It could be even more if depending on whether it's the first offense or the second one."
It won't take long before what was seen as a cheaper and convenient alternative will backfire, he adds. At some point, the consumer will start picking up the tab.
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