ELSPA in fresh swoops on pirates
via Computer and Video Games
You've got to love ELSPA. Not content with recently getting the 'boob job pirate' put behind bars, the publisher association has confirmed its latest victory - busting a massive games copying factory in the West Midlands.
According to the organisation, it was a £1 million racket, from which 30,000 illegally copied games, films and music DVDs were seized in a recent raid.
Slightly less impressive sounding, West Midlands police and members of Sandwell Council's Trading Standards Department also stormed "a market stall and a residential property" as part of the swoop.
Seven computers attached to 35 DVD re-writers, three printers, 19 hard drives, 15 Xbox 360s, two Wiis and a number of circumvention devices for chipping consoles were recovered alongside the pirated games and movies. We think ELSPA could've been more specific with that list.
"Piracy, like that of any other entertainment industry, costs us dear," said John Hillier, who heads up ELSPA's crime unit. "When a pirate sells illegally copied games they undermine the viability, value and creativity of our industry. The worst-case scenario is that pirate activity could cost the jobs of some of the UK's outstanding creative talent and that would be a catastrophe."
ELSPA advised punters to avoid dodgy games and hardware by sticking to reputable dealers in the run up to Christmas, before sending out a chilling message to pirates still operating under the radar.
"Anyone in Sandwell who is either trading in counterfeit goods, or even thinking of doing so, should beware - you could be next to receive an early morning call," said Sandwell Council's Deputy Trading Standards manager Bob Charnley in no uncertain terms.
Another textbook pirate bust there. Well done.
