More piracy charges likely

More than 500 people who bought pirated movies may face prosecution after a raid in South Auckland.

More than 250 allegedly pirated copies of movies, including Sione's Wedding and River Queen, were seized from an Otara house by police and members of an anti-piracy group.

The raid on Tuesday followed a month-long investigation which began after publicity about the theft of copies of Sione's Wedding, according to New Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft operations director Tony Eaton.

A list of more than 500 people who had bought allegedly pirated videos was found, and they could face prosecution, the federation said.

Archie Jacobsen, 29, appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday on charges of illegally copying and selling films and using a computer for dishonest practices. He was remanded on bail to a later date.

- NZPA