Pirated DVD Seller Faces U.S. Charges

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/business/worldbusiness/04pirate.html?ex=1286078400&en=02b2aa67e82008fb&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss' target='_blank'>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/business/worldbusiness/04pirate.html?ex=1286078400&en=02b2aa67e82008fb&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A man convicted in China of selling pirated DVD's now faces multiple charges of copyright infringement in the United States, federal authorities said on Monday. Chinese officials expelled the man, Randolph Hobson Guthrie, turning him over to United States authorities in Los Angeles late last week. He is to appear Tuesday in federal court for a bond hearing, according to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. After the bond hearing, Mr. Guthrie is expected to be transferred to Mississippi to face copyright infringement, trafficking and money-laundering charges."</i><br /><br />Interesting. The piracy of music and movies is an international issue now but I didn't think it is an issue that involved extradition. I feel that to some extent people should be convicted of crimes in the country that they committed them in although that clearly wouldn't work in countries where that offense isn't illegal. Has anyone given thought to this issue? Especially when digital crimes are involved?

[Jeremy Charette]

This foreshadows a big shakeup among Chinese manufacturers in the coming months and years. China is giving in to US demands to honor copyright law and provide protections for US corporations in China and vice versa. No more knock-off DVD players for $19.99 in Wal-mart.

[Felix Torres]

Interesting. The piracy of music and movies is an international issue now but I didn't think it is an issue that involved extradition. I feel that to some extent people should be convicted of crimes in the country that they committed them in although that clearly wouldn't work in countries where that offense isn't illegal. Has anyone given thought to this issue? Especially when digital crimes are involved?

Uh, no; no extradition needed here...
The man is a US citizen.
He was likely deported.
And he is being tried in the US because he and his partners sold counterfeit materials in the US, among other places.
Pretty much the way its supposed to be done.

As for China "giving-in" to US pressure: well, in case you hadn't noticed, China is now generating IP of their own.
If they don't respect other countries' IP rights, they can't expect their own to be respected, right?

And the death of the $20 DVD player: well, not quite.
You can still find them. Barely.
But what has happened is that the chinese manufacturers are moving up in the world now that they've established their ability to manufacture quality electronics. They are shifting production to higher profit margin products. Many of which are based on homegrown tech.

As Japan and Korea did, so does China aspire to doing: start low and move up. Start by copying and then start creating. Start working for others and then work for yourself.

Times change: China wishes to be seen as a mainstream country and tolerating piracy is hardly conducent to being respected.