Seizures and discoveries last week include the largest pirated DVD bust in Australia, where more than 400,000 discs were found… In Poland border police arrested 8 people involved in an organised crime syndicate smuggling CDs and DVDs, the group also had in their possession a number of firearms including a machine gun… Other pirated CDs and DVDs were seized in Malaysia, South Africa, UK and the US.

Cases and outcomes last week include a British man being sentenced to a year in jail after being found with thousands of items of counterfeit goods… Similarly a Jordanian man was sentenced to a year in jail after being caught selling pirated software.

Studies and reports out last week include one by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and the International Data Corporation ( IDC) showing the difference a 10 percent point drop in the software piracy rate would make to economies… IFPI has published its Digital Music Report 2008, showing that there was a 40 percent increase in digital music sales in 2007… A report has found that last year internet piracy in France was down 37 percent compared to 2006… The US trade representative has decided to add the Czech Republic to the 301 watch list of countries with bad IP practices because of the “ continuing lack of effective enforcement measures against traders openly selling pirated and counterfeit goods in the notorious border markets”… The British Medical Association has warned that half the anti-impotence drugs purchased online could be fake.