THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9412200363
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
A local business and two of its employees have pleaded guilty in Circuit Court to illegally reproducing thousands of Asian martial arts films, records show.
In July, a Norfolk grand jury returned indictments against Eric Video Trading, two other businesses and six employees for illegally copying thousands of films, primarily Chinese martial-arts movies never released in this country. When state police investigators raided the business, they seized 9,000 videos, 50 videocassette recorders, and a machine capable of producing blank tapes and other electronic equipment. The total worth was about $500,000.
State police said it was one of the largest video-piracy rings specializing in Asian films on the East Coast. The illegal operation, which had been in operation since 1991, diverted more than $1 million in royalties from the films' distributor, police said.
On Friday, Eric Video Trading pleaded guilty to three felony charges of copyright infringement. The same language difficulties that delayed the indictment for eight months after the November raid have prevented police from determining ownership of Eric Video. As part of the plea agreement, the company agreed to cease all illegal video-copying and forfeit all property seized by authorities.
Two employees also pleaded guilty in plea agreements. Ta-Chang Wang and Ying Y. Tsang each pleaded guilty to unlawful sound transferal, unlawful commerce in videotapes, and unlawful sale and rental of videotapes, all misdemeanors. Both were fined $300. Other defendants have pleaded guilty, court officials said.
The businesses were located in the 5700 block of Sellger Drive, south of Military Circle shopping mall.
KEYWORDS: PLEA AGREEMENT PIRACY VIDEO FELONY COPYRIGHT
INFRINGEMENT by CNB