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Don't Flash That Funny Cash - more from the keyboard of BJ.

Last week, a new report containing case studies (compiled by the Industry Trust for IP Awareness Ltd.) was published, and spread by its website (piracyisacrime.com). In it, it gives a number of 'case studies' which are really a disparate collection of cases it claims proves an irrefutable link between 'pirates' (and yet doesn't make the distinction as to what that term implies – counterfeiters, bootleggers, or copyright infringers, or people using common-sense fair use of purchased products) and those involved in more serious crimes. Of course, since copyright infringement is a civil offence, even speeding is a more serious crime, as indeed is any criminal action.

The report, as published on the website, came in 2 parts, the case-studies themselves (pIAc Link) and the associated press release (pIAc Link). There is a lot of interesting reading in them, most notably in that in at LEAST one case – on which I have focused this article – they don't agree. In the PDF, they say a case involving counterfeit £20 notes took place in Manchester, and in the press release, they claim it happened in Northumbria. Not heard of Northumbria? Not surprising, it's not a current name in most cases. According to the Northumbria genealogy and local history FAQ (Link) "Northumbria" was the name of an ancient Saxon kingdom which covered roughly the same area as the counties of Northumberland and County Durham or, more correctly, these two counties as they were before the local government re-organisation of 1974. Northumbria hasn't existed as an administrative entity for many centuries. For those that still don't know where that is, the site in question provides a map of where said counties are. Here's also link to a map showing the driving route from Sunderland, (one of the more southerly cities in 'Northumberland' to Manchester (Google Maps Link) not exactly adjoining cities, with total distance: 141 miles apart, with a driving time of about three-and-a-quarter hours. Go south that distance again, and you could quite easily be in Oxford. Regardless, a search of Northumbria police's website for 'counterfeit' (Northumbria Police Link) gave 4 results. Of those, 2 are warnings, one is a department description, and only one refers to actual crimes committed and detected, "Counterfeit currency worth £25,000 was recovered during two operations in Newbiggin along with equipment used for their production." Is all it has to say. Nothing about insurance certificates at all.

Manchester, on the other hand, has one hit (Greater Manchester Police Link) leading to a PDF (which doesn't actually work on Opera – my browser of choice) which is the "Chief Constable's Annual Report 2002/2003" and is on the Salford page (page 21) stating "Operations with Trading Standards have targeted handlers of stolen goods, salvage dealers and licensees. The success has included the recovery of stolen mobile phones and counterfeit goods and the prosecution of licensees for selling to under-age children.". Not a single reference to 'dodgy 20's'. A search of the net garnered no joy either, finding references to this same piece, with the only references to insurance certificates coming from the US state of Michigan. Hardly stirring stuff. Indeed, the only references to either place and involving counterfeit £20's is from a BBC documentary featuring undercover reporting, called Funny Money – ironically enough, it was aired the day this report came out – June 15th 2005 (BBC Link) but I don't recall there being any insurance certificates, just 20's, 10's and they were starting on the American Express Travellers Cheques.

Ok, we've established that the location of the counterfeiting may be suspect, but they were involved in counterfeiting CDs, yes? No. bootlegging? No. Unauthorised Copyright infringement? Possibly. "A DVD production operation was also uncovered in the property." appears to indicate so, but "Items seized: Counterfeit notes" contradicts it - were it an actual DVD production operation, it too would have been taken by authorities. The 'production operation' is, or was, probably a standard PC, with a DVD burner. A quick glance at the main page of PC World, for instance, shows 2 Desktop PC's, and a laptop, all 3 of them with dual layer, multi-format DVD RW drives. Perhaps this was why it wasn't seized? Amazing really, now they equate owning a DVD burner with being a counterfeiter/bootlegger. Many of us, myself included, use DVD burners all the time, for very legitimate purposes. Are we now all criminals in their eyes? If I killed someone in a car crash tomorrow, would they include me on their next 'case study sheet' – "Man found with a DVD production facility in his house, after going on a 40mph killing spree"?

Now, if they can't get the facts right between their case studies sheet, and the press release, makes you wonder really if they got the facts right from their source to their facts sheet. As such the veracity of the entire document is questionable, but as you know, questionable 'facts' from this cartel are not exactly news. They have been contacted via the website's contact address, asking for further information, but I fear that, as with previous requests, it will go completely ignored. Then again, since it's a PR company that states "Our approach to PR has always been results-orientated" that they have no time or desire for the Truth.

Ben Jones