AFP raid on internet cafe results in $82,000 fine and forfeiture of equipment

A media release jointly issued by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) and Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI) reports that, on 25 November 2008, the company operating the Interville Technology internet cafe in Sydney was convicted of copyright infringement in the Downing Centre Local Court.

The media release says that cafe customers were charged hourly fees to view and copy from a choice of hundreds of thousands of unauthorised music, film and television show titles, including movie titles not yet released in Australia.

The company pleaded guilty to 40 charges of copyright infringement. The Court ordered the company to pay a fine of $82,000 plus court costs and to forfeit computer equipment that was seized in a raid by the Australian Federal Police in December 2007.

The conviction followed a long-term investigation by AFACT and MIPI.

More:

• AFACT/MIPI joint media release