The
Organised Crime Investigations Division (OCID) says it plans to turn up the
heat on the lucrative trade in bootleg DVDs and CDs in a bid to drive vendors out
of business.
O-CID disclosed Tuesday afternoon that it has seized more than 50,000 DVDs and CDs on the black market and has slapped criminal charges on 70 persons in the Kingston Metropolitan Area since January.
The streets of major towns across the island are virtually littered with hundreds of illegal DVDs showcasing the latest flicks, albeit some of a grainy quality, which fetch prices as low as $100.
OCID, which has overall responsibilities for enforcing Jamaica's intellectual property laws has pledged renewed vigour to drive the flourishing trade out of business.
Superintendent Fitz Bailey, Commanding Officer in charge of the Organised Crime Investigations Division, told a press conference at the Police Officers Club in St. Andrew that selling DVDs poses a threat to national security.
"How certain are we that the proceeds form the sale of these items are not used to support other criminal activities," he said.
Superintendent Bailey said there has been a significant increase in complaints about infringements to materials involving copyright, trade market and patents.
Raising awareness of copyright laws
According to him, a proposal is being discussed to update the legislation to allow the police training school to include classes on copyright law in the curriculum for training new police officers.
Lilyclaire Bellamy, Deputy Director and Legal Counsel of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), says lack of knowledge about the country's copyright laws has exacerbated the problem.
"I think that ignorance is our major issue here as persons are not aware so they buy these illegal DVDs and CDs. JIPO is going to be working closely with the police force to raise the level of awareness of not only members of the public but also the police," she said.
O-CID disclosed Tuesday afternoon that it has seized more than 50,000 DVDs and CDs on the black market and has slapped criminal charges on 70 persons in the Kingston Metropolitan Area since January.
The streets of major towns across the island are virtually littered with hundreds of illegal DVDs showcasing the latest flicks, albeit some of a grainy quality, which fetch prices as low as $100.
OCID, which has overall responsibilities for enforcing Jamaica's intellectual property laws has pledged renewed vigour to drive the flourishing trade out of business.
Superintendent Fitz Bailey, Commanding Officer in charge of the Organised Crime Investigations Division, told a press conference at the Police Officers Club in St. Andrew that selling DVDs poses a threat to national security.
"How certain are we that the proceeds form the sale of these items are not used to support other criminal activities," he said.
Superintendent Bailey said there has been a significant increase in complaints about infringements to materials involving copyright, trade market and patents.
Raising awareness of copyright laws
According to him, a proposal is being discussed to update the legislation to allow the police training school to include classes on copyright law in the curriculum for training new police officers.
Lilyclaire Bellamy, Deputy Director and Legal Counsel of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), says lack of knowledge about the country's copyright laws has exacerbated the problem.
"I think that ignorance is our major issue here as persons are not aware so they buy these illegal DVDs and CDs. JIPO is going to be working closely with the police force to raise the level of awareness of not only members of the public but also the police," she said.
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