The Australian arms of the music and film industry have won a victory against piracy with the news that Sydney man Yong Hong Lin has been handed a three-month jail term for selling illegal imported discs from his Eastwood music and movie store.
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) and Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI) this morning issued a statement noting that Lin was convicted on Friday of 15 indictable copyright offences. The trial followed a police raid that netted more than 16,000 discs for sale, including discs imported from China and produced locally.
"I do not think that a fine or a community service order is appropriate in terms of being a deterrent sentence ... the proper penalty ... is one of a period of imprisonment," said the presiding judge, according to MIPI and AFACT.
"The movie and TV industries make a significant contribution to Australian jobs and our economy and need the protection of strong laws, effective enforcement and deterrent sentencing," said Neil Gane, executive director of AFACT. "We are at a tipping point and jail terms are without doubt the only way the courts can provide the strong deterrence needed to stop such profitable and damaging crimes."
However, Lin was originally charged with 31 offences relating to copyright theft; he was acquitted on 16.
