ABS-CBN scores vs pirates in California, Australia

MANILA, Philippines – The overseas unit of listed ABS-CBN Corp. of the Lopez family has stepped up its campaign against piracy resulting to two convictions in California and Australia early this year.

Elisha Lawrence, ABS-CBN assistant vice president of Global Anti-Piracy, said ABS-CBN International scored two recent legal victories in its determined fight against piracy.

“It is a responsibility to curb unlawful and unauthorized reproduction and use of content owned by others.  It is theft.  Like what many others in the industry who believe in and share this responsibility, we will continue to go after those who knowingly steal and benefit from this illegal practice,” Lawrence said.

Mary Smith of Barooga, New South Wales, Australia, who was the largest eBay seller of pirated ABS-CBN DVDs, pleaded guilty to all charges in Finlay Court in Australia in late January.

Prior to her arrest, the Australian police executed a warrant on Smith’s home and seized a large number of suspect ABS-CBN DVDs, hard disk drives, machinery and materials used to copy DVDs and mail them to customers.

Smith was not sentenced to jail this time as it was her first offense but was ordered to pay compensation to ABS-CBN for all profits she made from the sale of the unauthorized copied DVDs and pay criminal court fees.

On the other hand, Fernando Bernabe who faced charges in Long Beach, California criminal court for the second time under California Penal Code 653w(A) (1) and California Penal Code 29800 (A) (1) for selling pirate DVDs of ABS-CBN movies and TV shows at his movie rental store, as well as for possession of a gun, pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison last month.

He is required to pay restitution of nearly $10,000 to the victim, ABS-CBN International, as well as court fines and fees.

Bernabe would be on probation when he finishes his one-year jail sentence. If he violates probation and sells pirated DVDs again, he will return to jail for a four-year prison term.

“We at ABS-CBN are not alone in the anti-piracy war.  We are joining in the efforts of a worldwide industry affected by piracy which unites with the global creative community and believes in justly protecting their intellectual property,” ABS-CBN Global chief operating officer Raffy Lopez said.