Over 29,000 pirated Xbox 360 games confiscated in UAE store raids

[wraggster]

As part of ongoing efforts to reduce the spread of pirated Xbox 360 games and support the region's legitimate resellers, Microsoft Gulf today announced that UAE authorities confiscated over 29,000 pirated copies of Xbox 360 games in a series of 21 coordinated raids on reseller stores in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

In Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Economy liaised with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development to gain additional officers for assistance; enabling them to target a number of stores, and to conduct the raids simultaneously.

"The ramifications of piracy and the distribution of pirated goods will always negatively impact any economy and hinder growth. It does no justice to the businesses that are operating legitimately and complying with all regulatory and UAE laws," said Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, Managing Director, UAE Ministry of Economy. "The Ministry, in collaboration with private rights holders such as Microsoft, will take all necessary actions to clamp down on piracy and the distribution of counterfeit products in the UAE."

In Sharjah, the store raids conducted by government authorities lead to the confiscation of pirated products and the arrest of 3 people who are currently facing criminal charges. When one store which is known as a major supplier of pirated games in the market was raided, approximately 25,000 pirated DVDs were seized. The pirated games were purportedly found on specially built and hidden shelves, which held neatly arranged bundles of 50 pirated DVDs.

http://www.ameinfo.com/233806.html

[VampDude]

Hah, just the Xbox 360 games?

The country is riddled with piracy, though it will be another three to six years until they begin to sell copied PS3 titles.