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Atlanta
Cable TV Pirate Hit With $25.4 Million Judgment in U.S. District Court. A U.S. District Court judge in Atlanta has awarded Scientific-Atlanta Inc. a combined $25.4 million judgment against a major seller of altered cable set-top terminals, although Scientific-Atlanta expects to be able to collect only a nominal amount.

In the civil action, Jeffrey Fenley, an individual doing business as National Electronic Wholesalers, Santa Monica, California, was ordered to pay Scientific-Atlanta monetary penalties and damage of $21.3 million for violating the Federal Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, which bars the sale of altered set-top terminals for gaining unauthorized access to cable service, and $4.1 million for infringing on Scientific-Atlanta's trademark and for false advertising. National Electronic Wholesalers also was issued a permanent injunction barring it from advertising or selling any device for gaining unauthorized access to cable service.
(PRN Newswire, March 25, 1997)

Worldwide Update

China | Netherlands | United States

Under the agreement, Legend will install Microsoft's Windows 95 in Chinese in its computers, the two companies said. Charles Stevens, a Microsoft vice president, said it was the U.S. company's most significant software agreement in China. Legend and Microsoft said the agreement demonstrates China's determination to guard against piracy.

Piracy of computer software, audio and video cassettes and other intellectual property was long a source of friction between Beijing and Washington. Li Qin, Legend's general vice president, said that by offering computers with Windows 95 already installed, "we not only ensure the true and genuine application of legitimate software, but also reduce the consumer's initial investment and protect its subsequent value."
(The Associated Press, March 18, 1997 / Reuters, March 18, 1997)

Hong Kong
Jackie Chan Aims at Video Law
Martial artist Jackie Chan wants to amend a proposed law that will allow companies to distribute compact discs and videotapes copyrighted by other firms. Chan was one of about 150 actors and recording artists demonstrating against the law in Hong Kong recently, saying it would devastate the industry. Hong Kong lawmakers are considering the change. Protesters said the move would encourage piracy, already a serious problem in Hong Kong and China.
(The Associated Press, March 20, 1997)

Beijing
A New York Times article concerning House Speaker Newt Gingrich's recent visit to China was accompanied by a picture of a steam roller crushing pirated videocassettes and CDs. The caption read, "China Tries to Show Anti-Piracy Drive is Still Rolling."
(The New York Times, March 29, 1997)

Washington
The Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) year-end anti-piracy statistics indicate that music piracy in CD format is expanding rapidly, and in 1996, seizures of piratical music in CD format overtook cassette seizures for the first time. Bootlegs constituted the bulk of seized CDs, which grew 1300% from 84,965 in 1995, to 1,261,961 in 1996. Traditional cassette piracy continues to wane but Latin music dominates cassette piracy, accounting for 80% of seized product.
(RIAA Press Release, March 12, 1997)

Seeking to maintain SPA's long-standing tradition of balancing education and enforcement, the Internet Anti-Piracy Campaign at http://www.spa.org/piracy/iapc.htm contains substantive information for both server operators and end users. Included on the site are Guidelines for Copyright Protection, a Copyright Glossary, an explanation of copyright law's application on the Internet and other valuable resources.

"SPA welcomes the cooperation of AOP and other members of the Internet community in tackling this important issue," said Peter Beruk, director of domestic anti-piracy. "Internet piracy is a sizable problem, which may only be resolved by working together." (Software Publishers Association Internet Site: http://www.spa.org/ , March 12,1997)

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