Police smash DVD piracy ring

Police have smashed a piracy ring in the UK that made an estimated £7 million from selling copied DVDs.

Members of a large piracy gang based in the UK have appeared in court after police uncovered details of their multi-million pound operation.

Five men were charged over copyright infringements and could face jail depending on the outcome of their sentencing later this month.

The piracy ring was operated by 53-year-old Khalid Sheikh and two of his sons, both in their twenties, who were found guilty of conspiring to break copyright laws and trademark legislation and acquire criminal property.

Two other men, Xin Li and Richard Russell, were found guilty of concealing criminal property and infringing copyright laws.

Altogether, the gang is estimated to have made £7 million from copying box office movies and selling them on ahead of their official release for around £3 each.

Their warehouse was based in Essex and the pirates also owned several smaller factories which were predominantly staffed with illegal Chinese immigrants, the court heard.

The trial comes after the Alliance Against Intellectual Property Theft called for a crackdown on the sale of counterfeit goods, including DVDs, at markets and car boot sales.

According to the organisation, more than one-quarter of all fake DVD purchases are made at car boot sales.

Commenting on the intellectual property issue, director general Liz Bales said: "The average price for a counterfeit DVD at a market or car boot fair is £3.09.

"While consumers may feel that they are getting a bargain, the real beneficiaries are the criminals who are breaking the law by selling illegal DVDs."

Earlier this year, the Cannock Chase Post reported that police had seized thousands of discs during an operation at a West Midlands car boot sale.

Around £500,000 worth of pirated DVDs were found and five people were detained on suspicion of involvement in counterfeiting.