DVD piracy too rife among police to prosecute
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hXXp://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23495134-5006787,00.html
DVD piracy too rife among police to prosecute
By Colin James | April 07, 2008
HUNDREDS of police officers across South Australia caught using their work computers to illegally copy movie DVDs will escape prosecution.
The activity - strictly banned under federal copyright laws - was detected during an audit conducted by the information technology branch of SA Police.
Senior police, including Commissioner Mal Hyde, have been briefed on the extent of the problem.
An internal email to police management said the audit had "identified a number of instances where commercial DVD movies have been copied to the hard-drives of police computers which potentially had been burnt to blank DVDs".
"This practice is potentially a breach of copyright and misuse of SAPOL equipment," it said.
"Branch managers are requested to take measures to ensure this practice must not occur and to remind members (officers) of the policies relating to the use of SAPOL computer equipment."
Police sources have told The Advertiser an official investigation, which could lead to criminal charges, will not be conducted because of the large number of police officers involved in copying DVDs.
Mr Hyde's spokeswoman, Roberta Heather, confirmed his senior executive group had been briefed on the results of the computer audit.
"A recommendation was made that identified work areas should remind members of the need to comply with SAPOL's policy in regard to the appropriate use of work systems and legislative requirements," she said.
Ms Heather said police computer systems regularly were audited "and appropriate action is taken where any breach of legislation or policy is detected".
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft said it would write to Mr Hyde to seek an explanation.
Under federal laws, severe penalties can be imposed on video piracy.
Penalties include fines of up to $60,500 for individuals and up to $302,500 for corporations for each individual infringement, and up to five years' imprisonment.
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In another article on this topic, the same police will still be after people who pirate stuff from the internet.
Then again, does it surprise anyone that there are 2 set of laws, us and them?!
