Woman arrested after illegal DVD duplication activities

A woman from Cumbria has been given a jail sentence after pleading guilty to 18 charges relating to her illegal DVD duplication business.

Louise Sharkey, 38, was copying films and then selling them on internet auction site eBay.

She additionally used direct mailing techniques to advertise new titles to her existing client base. Cumbria Trading Standards become aware of the case when the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) contacted Ms Sharkey and bought eight counterfeit DVDs from her.

Officers found two copying towers for making illegal discs, as well as 600 master film discs, 5,000 CD and DVD cover works and 33,000 music MP3 files at her house.

Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria Trading Standards, said: "I hope that the sentence imposed today will act as a deterrent to others who are tempted to think that copying film or music discs is a quick and easy way to make money.

"The penalties available to the court are substantial and custodial sentences are increasingly imposed by the courts in the battle against counterfeiters."

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