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Video Game Industry Applauds Toronto Police Service’s Anti-Piracy Efforts
TPS Raids Duplication Facility for Pirated Games
November 26, 2008 – Washington, DC – Detective Chris Chilvers and the 14 Division Major Crime Unit of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) were commended today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) for dismantling a significant game piracy operation. On November 19, 2008, the TPS executed a search warrant at a retail store in Toronto, resulting in two arrests and the seizure of over 2,800 pirated games and movies, four computers and hard drives, 35 DVR-R burners, various modification devices and numerous modified game systems.
“The Toronto Police Service did an outstanding job in taking down this piracy operation,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. “Successful law enforcement efforts against pirates like these make it clear that copying and selling video games leads to criminal arrest, not profit.”
Gary Bowser, the owner of the targeted store Video Games and Repairs, located at 223 Jameson Avenue, Toronto, was identified by ESA investigators as a piracy suspect nearly two years ago. In addition to the storefront burning operation that allegedly engaged in the large-scale copying and sale of pirated games, Bowser also operated a booth at the Mississauga Flea Market outside of Toronto where he was reported to have sold pirated games. He was arrested and charged with six counts of fraud, six counts of possession of property obtained by crime, and one count of obstruct of police based on multiple sales of pirated product from his two operations. The store manager, Houhannes Kebabdjian, was arrested on multiple counts, including one count of fraud, one count of possession of property obtained by crime, and one count of proceeds of crime. The total value of pirated games seized by the TPS represents a significant loss of income to game publishers, distributors and legitimate local retailers.
ESA has been managing an industry enforcement program targeting game piracy in Canada since 2004. Working with local counsel and investigators, the ESA identifies instances of pirate activity involving game software and supports the efforts of Canadian law enforcement to address such illegal activity. ESA members, who publish and distribute video games in Canada, are looking forward to continuing efforts with the TPS to reduce the level of game piracy in order to protect the many businesses that form part of the local entertainment software industry.
The ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, and First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information about the ESA, please visit www.theESA.com.
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