Serge Corrveault

Serge Corrveault, an investigator with the Canadian Motion Pictures Distributors Association, says the very first seized DVD was found in Calgary Alberta-making the province the birth place of DVD piracy investigation.

"That's also something new we have to go back to corner stores . . . now they're selling pirated DVDs."

Corrveault was surprised to learn of the May charges against Young Yoo, operator of Red Basket in High Prairie.
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It's a growing industry, says Corrveault.
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Corrveault says there are several ways people access recent movies.Sometimes it's as simple as bringing a video camera into a viewing and uploading the video onto the Internet when it's over.

Others download it using any number of different search software or databases and later burn them.

Once the DVDs are burned, they can be found anywhere, adds Corrveault.
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If anything, says Corrveault, they can get away with more.
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In each instance in Canada where piracy charges have resulted in convictions, the fines have varied depending on circumstances, says Corrveault.Most fines are averaging at approximately $1,000 per copy or instance.

"But now we're seeing less than that because sometimes it depends on their deals with the Crown . . . It could be even more if depending on whether it's the first offense or the second one."

It won't take long before what was seen as a cheaper and convenient alternative will backfire, he adds.

Serge Corrveault, an investigator with the Canadian Motion Pictures Distributors Association in Montreal, says piracy is a growing industry.

Approximately 10 years ago they battled VHS piracy.

The advent and popularity of the Internet have made the crimes easier to commit.

The very first pirated DVD seized was found in Calgary several years ago, says Corrveault.