The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) is praising the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for the July 13th enforcement action against retail outlets offering pirated and counterfeit entertainment software for sale at Pacific Mall in Markham, Ontario. During the operation, the RCMP raided three stores in Pacific Mall, seized thousands of copies of pirated game software, and arrested one person implicated in the counterfeiting operation.

Pacific Mall has been a high-traffic venue for the sale and purchase of counterfeit products, including illegal entertainment software, for some time. In April 2005, the RCMP undertook enforcement actions against a number of Pacific Mall outlets. The July 13th enforcement action underscores the fact that, despite the previous enforcement actions, large amounts of pirated game product continued to be sold at Pacific Mall, thereby undermining the ability of legitimate game retailers to do business.

"Game piracy in Canada has harmed the retailers of authentic game software in Canada," said Danielle Labossiere Parr, Executive Director of ESAC. "We are grateful that the RCMP continues to target this criminal activity."

Labossiere Parr also called for tougher pirate penalties, however, noting that last year's raid, as reported here, resulted only in a hefty fine for perpetrator Fun Desk Video Games Inc. "It is clear that the severity of the penalties imposed in this case needs to be increased to include the imposition of a prison sentence in order to deter any future sales of pirate game software by Pacific Mall outlets and others engaged in the pirate trade," Labossiere Parr said.