Published: Tuesday, 10th November, 2009 9:40am

Shop owner caught selling fake DVDs

HUNDREDS of counterfeit DVDs were seized from a shop owner who has now been prosecuted.

Trading standards officers from Slough Borough Council visited Zafar Khan's Sam's World Travel store on January 27 where they seized 1,212 items, including 845 DVDs that were found to be counterfeit. The titles were mainly Bollywood, but there were also some Hollywood blockbusters.

Khan, of Gloucester Avenue, pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 on November 5, at Slough Magistrates Court.

Sam's World Travel was stocking counterfeit DVD copies of the film Slumdog Millionaire when it was still showing at the cinema, despite the official UK release date being June 1.

Khan was given a community service order to work unpaid for 120 hours within the next year and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.

Slough Borough Council's Trading Standards Officer, Dean Cooke, said: "We're committed to making sure Slough is a good place to live, work and play without any illegal activity going on. Many traders think buying products from a car boot sale or from the back of a van gets them a bargain.

"However, many of these products are illegal and of poor standard. Suppliers of illegal DVDs and other products make their sales and then disappear without a trace, leaving the retailers to take the blame for committing criminal offences. Our advice is to contact trading standards if anyone has any suspicions."

Commissioner for community and leisure, Cllr Shafiq Chaudhry, added: "Everyone enjoys watching a movie, but it isn't just that these DVDs are counterfeit, but can actually be led back to other criminal activity, such as drugs and prostitution. Make sure you only buy or rent from a reputable company."

The focus of the prosecution case centred on the illegal use of registered Trader Marks, without the prior authorisation of the Trade Mark holder.

Return to: Homepage | News Index | This article