International Federation Against Copyright Theft

About IFACT-GC

The International Federation Against Copyright Theft - Greater China was established in 2006 by the Motion Picture Association to protect the film industry in the Greater China region from the adverse impact of piracy. IFACT-GC works closely with law enforcement agencies and other government bodies, as well as local industry associations to protect the film and television industry, retailers and movie fans in Greater China.

Education

IFACT-GC is taking a multi-pronged approach to fighting piracy: through awareness, consultation, education and enforcement.

Enabling people to understand what piracy is and how it hurts the community is IFACT-GC's major education strategy. Being able to make an informed decision about the right choice is one of strongest weapons against piracy.

IFACT-GC is developing strategies to help educate and inform parents, students, teachers, retailers, workers and employers - consumers of all ages and from all walks of life - about the importance and value of intellectual property rights, the reasons why piracy is wrong, and the consequences of breaking the law.

This includes developing teaching support materials. The rationale behind this program is to eliminate the use and distribution of pirated films in schools and school communities and to introduce and integrate the teaching and understanding of the concept of copyright.

IFACT-GC also provides information packs to law enforcement agencies about copyright and film piracy-related crimes, as well as information brochures for retailers and cinema owners across Hong Kong.

Enforcement

Copyright protection laws vary from country to country; however, the common purpose of these anti-piracy laws is to protect valuable ideas and content-creating industries.

That effort benefits all people in creative industries - such as filmmaking - globally.

IFACT-GC investigators work closely with law enforcement authorities to ensure that copyright is protected in Hong Kong and throughout Greater China. IFACT-GC also works with the Motion Picture Association and other industry associations - for example, in the music, computer software and computer games industries - in an effort to stamp out piracy.

Government agencies, acting on information from IFACT-GC and members of the public, are continually identifying and raiding manufactures and distributors of pirated movies across Hong Kong.

Cinema employees also are becoming increasingly vigilant in looking out for people copying films in cinemas with camcorders. These offenders risk significant penalties, including equipment seizures and the laying of criminal charges by the C&E.

The Hong Kong government has recently identified intellectual property theft as a serious crime, with additional resources expected to be allocated to cracking down on piracy.

ee also

* International copyright

External links

* [http://www.ifact-gc.org International Federation Against Copyright Theft - Greater China Home]