Record prison sentence for UK game pirate

[gaming ultima]

The largest custodial sentence ever to be imposed by a UK court for games piracy was handed down by Cardiff Crown Court yesterday, with a man being sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for a counterfeiting offence.

South Wales man John Lamb (45) of Llanharan, near Bridgend, pleaded guilty to 30 counts of trademark and video recording offences, covering games, films and business software, after an 18-month operation spearheaded by Torfaen Trading Standards and ELSPA.

Lamb was caught with merchandise worth an estimated quarter of a million pounds, which he was selling over the Internet by sending spam emails around the world from a base of operations in his own property. His lengthy sentence came partially from the fact that after his initial arrest, he recommenced his business and was subsequently arrested for a second time.

"This is the longest prison sentence ELSPA has ever seen handed down to a games pirate," commented ELSPA director general Roger Bennett, "and it is gratifying to see the courts are now taking piracy seriously and enforcing suitably severe sentences."

"Piracy is a criminal offence," he continued, "and as this case demonstrates, anyone involved in the illegal practice of counterfeiting could face not just a fine but the very real possibility of substantial jail time."

The judgement came days after the High Court in London handed down another important verdict in the industry's war on piracy - ruling that the sale, promotion and use of console mod chips is illegal under the UK's implementation of the European Union Copyright Directive laws, which came into effect last October.

gamesindustry.biz

[PlayStation 3]

^
He deserves it but it's a bit harsh too, he should have known better than that. I mean his not a kid so he knew what he was doing and the risks involved

He had it coming for him

Poor soul

[heerokenshin]

The Club
By Dusty Stokes

Genre: Shooter
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Sega
Release Date: TBA 2007




Sega Europe and Sega of America recently announced The Club for next-gen consoles for 2007.
The Club is the latest project from award-winning developers Bizarre Creations, famous for the Project Gotham Racing series. This will be their second game in conjunction with Sega, having already made Metropolis Street Racer.
In The Club, Bizarre Creations will shake up 3rd person shooters as they have the racing genre. The game focuses on addictive gameplay and will test your skills and have a relentless pace. It will have frantic, fast-paced gameplay with a unique style.
“The Club is the most exciting game I have seen in ages. It's one of those titles, even at this stage in development, which I cannot put down - it will be huge.” commented Matt Woodley, Creative Director of SEGA.
"Here at Bizarre Creations we feel The Club brings the pillars of classic Sega gameplay bang up to date for the next generation of hardware, gaming and gamers" said Martyn Chudley, Managing Director, Bizarre Creations Ltd. "We are truly excited by the prospects of this game and of our partnership with SEGA."
The Club itself is a loosely organized illegal underground, a meeting place for those seeking thrills, and those desiring to watch.
The Club will take you to unusual locations from all over the world, is packed with high-powered guns, and tests your limits. The goal of the game is to make it out alive.
Stay tuned for more updates.





Images:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/n ... een003.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/n ... een002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/n ... een001.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/n ... 8_0002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/n ... 8_0005.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y151/n ... 8_0013.jpg

I have the trailer too, but it wouldn't upload.

[ps3 Wanna be]

Live.

[heerokenshin]

This is not on the preview page...

edit found it, however, i think that games with "The" in the beginning should not be alphabatized under the, but under the main name, so the club should go with the c's