JB Illegal DVD showroom busted!

Thousands of DVDs line the shelves along three of the room's walls, workers sorting DVDs into plastic sleeves at a table, small collection of pornographic DVDs is stashed in boxes on a smaller table. Sound familiar? This is the typical hide-and-seek world of DVD piracy in Johor Baru.

Four years ago, press reports stated there were 20 pirated DVD shops at this particular mall. This week, only five remained. And while the discs were previously sold openly or from under-the-counter shelves in the shops, the pirated discs have all been moved elsewhere, to another shop usually on another level at the same shopping mall.

Acting on information, the authorities in Johor Baru caught three persons and confiscated 4,000 pirated discs at a mall. At the same time, a runner who was engaged to deliver 300 discs to Singapore buyers here, was also nabbed by Singapore police on 3 Jul.

For those often at Johor Baru's Holiday Plaza for DVD shopping, please take note. Its no longer safe to buy there or even to order online from them. The next thing you know you may be charged for breaking the Copyright Act.