British Court Recovers Pirate Game Funds

Officials from British trade organization ELSPA (The Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) have announced that a Merseyside woman has had assets seized totaling almost £250,000 ($474,000), following a conviction for piracy and counterfeiting offences. Forty-six year old Susan Roach was originally caught in possession of pirated PlayStation 2 and Xbox games, but was ordered back to Liverpool Crown Court for a hearing on August 11th, after a previous jail sentence of 12 months for piracy offences. The court assessed that Roach had gained more than £850,000 ($1.6m) from criminal activities and using legislation under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) she was ordered to back £242,807. If the money is not paid within a set time period Roach faces an additional jail sentence. Michael Rawlinson, managing director of ELSPA commented: "The Roach case highlights the severe penalties facing criminals who partake in the selling of pirated computer and video games. Any profit made through illegal activity such as this can - and often is reclaimed under POCA, and just goes to show that piracy and counterfeiting doesn’t pay." The case is the latest in a number of successful prosecutions enabled by ELSPA investigators, and follows demands of a former husband and wife to repay £600,000 ($1.14m) and the jailing of another individual for mod chip possession.