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A friend of mine wrote this article. It's been gently edited for grammar but otherwise is entirely his work. It refers to the last part of their statistics page.

Terrorist Involvement

Ah, wouldn't be some kind of campaign nowadays without involving TERRORISTS would it. As we all know, terrorists are responsible for knocking down buildings, blowing up bridges, the assassinations of at least 2 US presidents, the Boston Tea Party, the great fire of London, Harold's loss at Hastings, the crucifixion of Christ, and the expulsion from Eden. Least, that's what these kinds of people would like you to think. Its what's generally called FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) and is a very good way to get anyone to do whatever you want.

Anyway, to the 'facts' (no, don't laugh):

Paramilitary organizations are behind 80% of IP crime in Northern Ireland.

I thought this was about software/movie/TV piracy, or is it now about GENERAL IP CRIME (which is totally different)? IP crime includes things like counterfeit jeans, and other goods, like VCRs, shoes, handbags, watches, sports equipment as WELL as DVDs. Notice what they DON'T say:-

• What percentage of IP crime in relevant goods (copied DVDs)
• What percentage of these goods is distributed by the paramilitary organizations mentioned
• How many pirated items are we talking about in total.

Also notice how they don't give a source.

Of all pirate and counterfeit products seized in Northern Ireland, pirate DVDs form the largest product type.

According to whom? Is this from all 100% of IP crime, or just the 80% mentioned previously? Is it the largest group by number? By value? By erotic content? By ranking them based on what the officers would most want to take home? By most taken home by officers? The second question is WHEN. When was this ranked. Who writes this crap of theirs anyway?

According to a 2003 Interpol report on 'The Links Between Intellectual Property Crime and Terrorist Financing', "trafficking in counterfeit goods is a relatively easy criminal activity. A terrorist could make profit solely from the sale of counterfeit or pirated goods and does not need to be involved in the actual production or fabrication. Thus, there are relatively low entry costs and the illicit profit margins are high."

Yes, trafficking (what a lovely word, conjures up the images of goldfingers stashed in body cavities and other such delights) in counterfeit goods is a relatively easy criminal activity. So are extortion, abduction, and even speeding. The next sentence is possibly the most laughable one here – "A terrorist could make profit solely from the sale of counterfeit or pirated goods and does not need to be involved in the actual production or fabrication." Forgive me if I'm being just a little bit dense, but isn't that THE POINT of selling items? To make a profit? I could sell counterfeit items and make a profit without being involved in the actual production or fabrication. Anyone could, so why single out terrorists as being able? You will also notice the words "or fabrication" – this is not just about a knock-off DVD; it's about ALL counterfeit goods. Finally, the last sentence is true to most crimes, that is why they are committed. You can buy a gun for about as much as a DVD burner costs. I'll bet I can earn more money quicker with a gun than I can with a DVD burner, unless I maybe put it in a big sock and hit security guards around the head with it.

One estimate is that the profits from counterfeiting are similar to drugs trafficking; there is a return of 10 Euros for each 1 Euro invested. Other estimates are that counterfeiting is more profitable than drugs trafficking; one kilo of pirated discs is worth more than one kilo of cannabis resin.

Oooh, we're back with the drugs. Thought this was about terrorists, and the drugs bit was 'Society's Problem'. *Yawn* as always, estimated by who? Some learned professor who's been studying this for years? No, they would have been quick to plaster his name here, to lend some credibility. It's more likely that this was the estimate of either one (or a collections of) the PR monkeys that are responsible for the crap on the PIAC site, or some guy they met down the pub. Maybe this estimate was the collected wisdom of 'the people' collated by those very annoying women you see in every city centre, holding clipboards, and telling you first that it won't take a minute, and then that 'we're almost done now dear' for the next 20.

A kilo of DVDs worth more than a kilo of cannabis resin, eh? Lets see, my brand new copy of 'Still Crazy' (R1, double sided disc, very nice) is approx 60g including packaging; that means there's 16 2/3 DVDs per kilo.

Since this section started with Ireland, and this point uses euros, let's use Ireland's street prices. In the first half of December 2003, Revenue's Customs Service in Dundalk has seized 23kg of resin, with a street value of €320,000. that's about €13,900 per kilo. This works out that According to this 'estimate', each DVD is worth about €835. I think the PR monkeys need to learn how to use a calculator, or get out in the Real World™

(Ref - http://www.revenue.ie/wnew/pr_1215can.htm - the Irish Revenue Commissionaires)