12 February 2004 06:31
MUSIC AND FILM PIRATE SOLD FAKES ON THE `NET
Matthew Peter Rodgers sold copies to people across the UK from a Russian-based website launched from his
computer.
Consumer watchdogs traced the site and raided his Heather Road home, in Knighton, in the first investigation of its
kind in Leicester.
In two rooms, they found more than 4,000 disks and eight machines for copying DVD movies, best-selling music and
computer games. Elsewhere, they found Jiffy bags for sending the discs - which also included hardcore pornography -
through the post to subscribers.
Rodgers (32), admitted 13 charges of using a trademark without consent, a charge of supplying adult videos without a
licence and a charge of supplying films without a classification.
Magistrates said their powers of punishment were insufficient and sent the case to Leicester Crown Court for
sentencing.
Clive Topin, prosecuting for Leicester Trading Standards, said disks and computer equipment were seized from
Rodgers's home.
Batches of disks with trademarks for film producers such as Universal, Warner Bros and Paramount were sent to the
Federation Against Copyright Theft. Suspected fake music disks and software disks, bearing trademarks for labels such as
EMI/Virgin, Sony and Eidos, were sent to their respective industry watchdogs.
In each case they confirmed the trademarks were theirs and Rodgers did not have permission to use them.
Computer experts were called in and confirmed the equipment taken from Heather Road was used to copy audio and
video.
Mr Topin said: "Some of the DVDs taken were of films which investigators knew were not on general release at
that time. Many on sale on the website were GBP7.50, much less than they would normally sell for.'' Shahzad
Raja, defending, said Rodgers had initially started copying for himself and then for friends.
He said: "He got out of control, and wished he could have stopped what he started, but before he could, he was
caught." After the hearing, Trading Standards officers said the case was the first prosecution of its kind in
Leicester.
Rodgers is due to be sentenced Friday, March 19.
[Leicester Mercury] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
