Hong Kong customs arrests 2 party room operators over suspected pirated songs
Customs says officers raided eight properties across city, seizing HK$240,000 worth of karaoke equipment in copyright crackdown
Hong Kong customs has arrested two party room operators on suspicion of providing pirated karaoke songs to customers after raiding eight properties across the city.
The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday that officers launched an operation between December 3 and 10 after analysing intelligence, with the help of copyright owners, and identifying party rooms suspected of possessing and providing infringing karaoke songs.
Officers raided party rooms in various areas, including Kwun Tong, Kowloon Bay, San Po Kong, Mong Kok and Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon, and Kwai Chung and Yuen Long in the New Territories.
“Two male persons in charge of the party rooms, aged 27 and 42, were arrested on suspicion of contravening the Copyright Ordinance,” a spokesman for the department said, adding the pair were on bail.
“The investigation is ongoing and further arrests are not ruled out.”
Eight sets of karaoke devices used for playing allegedly pirated songs, one game console suspected of infringing copyrights and other audio and video equipment were seized, with an estimated market value of about HK$240,000 (US$31,000).