Londonderry shopkeeper fined for selling counterfeit dvds

Londonderry shopkeeper Daniel McDaid was today fined a total of £200 at Londonderry Magistrates' Court for selling counterfeit DVD’S.

In a case brought by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s Trading Standards Service, Mr McDaid, trading as ‘Box Office Rentals’, Beechwood Avenue, Londonderry, pleaded guilty to 15 charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994. The court fined Mr McDaid £50 each for the first four counts and imposed conditional discharges for the remaining 11. Mr McDaid was also ordered to pay £24 court costs and a forfeiture order was imposed for the counterfeit DVDs.

In October 2007 Trading Standards Investigating Officer Raymond Dolan visited the shop where he discovered over 1,200 DVDs which did not appear to be genuine. These DVDs were seized and forwarded to the trademark holders for examination, and were later confirmed as infringing copies.

Investigating Officer Raymond Dolan said: “Mr McDaid was actively misleading his customers by supplying counterfeit DVDs, including many recent film releases at that time.

“The public, as well as legitimate businesses, need to be protected from unscrupulous trading practices. This case should serve as a warning to other businesses that legal action will be taken to protect consumers who are misled about goods which are sold to them.”

Anyone who believes they have been sold counterfeit goods should contact Consumerline on 0845 600 62 62.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Trade Marks Act 1994 creates offences for applying to goods a trade mark without the consent of the trade mark holder.

2. For media enquiries please contact the DETI Press Office, telephone 028 9052 9297 or 07866 847919. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.