Illegal selling of DVDs
The copyright law was passed last year. All but one of the merchants that were selling DVDs has stopped. It is in plain sight to see and not only that but the one left behind is reaping all the benefits of our customers on the main street in George Town. Will this law be enforced? If not I shall resume peddling my DVDs.
Auntie’s answer: I have been chasing this question for quite a while, so the situation described may have changed by now. If that is the case, a similar scenario could still arise and, either way, I felt you deserve to get the answer.
The regulation you are referring to is The Copyright (Cayman Islands) Order 2015, which extended the UK’s Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to Cayman.
An explanation of what can be done if a person or business is infringing a copyright, in this case selling illegally copied DVDs, has come from the Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office (CIIPO), which falls under the General Registry.
According to the office, “Copyright is a private right and so it is up to the owner to decide how to enforce their right. If you believe someone is infringing on your copyright or the copyright of others, please visit the General Registry counter to make a complaint, following which the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI) will investigate and take action where necessary.”
The CIIPO added, “The filing of a complaint by businesses or members of the public is the most direct way to initiate enforcement action. It should be noted, however, that DCI utilises multiple sources of information and does have the power to launch investigations on their own initiative.”
Also important to note is that deliberate copyright infringement for commercial gain is a criminal offence, which can “result in substantial costs and even jail time”.
While you might think it a good idea to take a chance on somehow slipping through the regulatory cracks, the wiser choice may be to pack up those DVDs and go home.
Category: Ask Auntie
There used to be a DVD store by Hurleys but with the mark up and the Duty(legalized stealing) only a few could afford to buy one so they went out of business. The only choices are buy pirated DVDs or get taken by the pirate lords at CIG. I happily buy from a friend.
‘Pack up & go home’?? Where exactly do you suggest the Caymanians who were selling these dvd’s go? I know of at least two who were doing this type of business. Yes, illegal now, but close down those still doing it. Enforcement here of any laws is almost non existent.
CNS: For heaven’s sake! “Pack up those DVDs and go home” means go home to your house, not go home to your country. Basic comprehension entails reading what’s there, not inserting ideas that aren’t. There is nothing about nationality in Auntie’s answer.
I used to buy these pirated DVDs sometimes.
It is a breach of the Copyright laws but although they claim you are stealing you really aren’t because stealing means depriving someone of their property. So if I knock you over the head and take your cell phone it’s stealing. Watching a copy of a movie I would not otherwise have bought deprives no one of anything.
HOWEVER. I have not bought one in a couple of years because for about the same cost we can watch it on Apple TV and view it in HD with no one’s head blocking the screen as they get up to buy a soda.
Nelsonian blindness. The sort of everyday criminality that undermines society far more than one thinks.
DVDs are over. Streaming has killed it.
Ah, typical Cayman. There are widespread offences being committed openly, but unless some person is minded to file a complaint, putting their details in writing and risking serious personal and commercial repercussions while being labelled a snitch, we are under no obligation to do anything. If if you do report, chances are we do nothing anyway.
Like stealing expats pension money.
Exactly!