OMB raid yields illegal DVD copies of books

MANILA, Philippines - Agents of the Optical Media Board (OMB) recently raided several establishments along P. Paredes Street in Sampaloc, Manila engaged in the unauthorized reproduction and sale of digital copies of books in violation of the Optical Media Act of 2003.

The team confiscated over a thousand DVDs and CDs containing illegal digital copies of books as well as equipment used in the illegal digital reproduction of these books.

Long-term investigation revealed that establishments along P. Paredes Street are engaged in large-scale photo copying and digital format conversions of entire books, and the storage of multiple copies of numerous books on the same optical disc.

The raid was undertaken following the filing of a complaint by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), the leading national trade association for the US book and journal publishing industry.

AAP represents some 300 companies that publish commercial, educational, professional and scholarly works in the US and internationally. 

Lawyer Cyrus Paul Valenzuela, OIC of the executive director’s office of the OMB, said any business found engaged in the unauthorized digital replication and duplication of film, music, software, games and books, faces confiscation of subject materials, business closure, payment of fine and even imprisonment.

Valenzuela added that the public, including business owners, should be aware that the OMB’s authority is not limited to the regulation of the production and sale of movie DVDs.

He said the Optical Media Act gives the OMB the authority to regulate optical media in general, regardless of content, including digital copies of books.

He encourages business owners who produce or sell any form of optical media to work closely with the OMB to avoid penalties. 

Lui Simpson, AAP executive director for international enforcement, said book piracy remains a significant problem worldwide.

Large-scale unauthorized reproduction of books and journals, in hard copy and digital formats, causes substantial harm to publishers and affects costs to consumers and quality of content. 

The AAP works actively with law enforcement agencies to protect the intellectual property rights of its member-publishers, so that consumers continue to have access to legitimate, high-quality content.