Counterfeit computer game discs being confiscated in Khimki, outside Moscow
Photo: Grigory Tambulov
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Major Pirate Closed in St. Petersburg
Police in St. Petersburg have closed down one of the largest producers of pirate CDs and DVDs in Russia. The plant had a capacity of 10 million discs per month, which represented up to 19 percent of the enormous Russian pirate media market. Last year, that market was worth $700 million, that is, 70 percent of the total market.
The source of the illegal production was traced to St. Petersburg by the economic crimes division of the Moscow police (GUVD). Police in Russia's second city located the pirate's plant at 1/9 Khimichesky Lane. That facility is rented by OOO Viktoria. The names of that company's owners were not released. Two production lines produced legal discs in that facility. Another seven created counterfeits. Sixteen employees of the enterprise were taken into custody and 16,000 discs were seized.
In Moscow, the share of pirate goods on the market has shrunk to 40 percent. In the regions, however, it is 85-90 percent. Inexpensive new DVD players and low incomes guarantee that the pirate market will remain hardy. Online pirates took the bite out of the pirate disc market in Moscow. Unauthorized Russian online providers have about 1.35 million subscribers and forced pirate disc sales down by 80 percent in Moscow.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 21, 2007
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