Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Skippy]

(Hope this is the right Forum).

I going to be travelling to Australia in a few months. I will be stay a good amount of time there. My question is about the Customs in Australia.

Me, I really like TV shows and I download constantly off of P2P. So I have about 300+ DVD-Rs of various TV shows, ebooks, audio books, and a few movies. No doubles. I have 2 DVD in a sleeve and about 70 cds to a small cubish box. I like to keep my collections even I do jot get around till much later to rewatch.

One think about me is I am paranoid. I am worried that when I go through Australian customs they will seize my collection and then fine me up the yin-yang. I have looked on the internet about customs and copied shows. Even really browsed the Australian Customs website and looked and some of the news over the last few years and major busts they have had.

I haved travelled thorugh Australia before and had CD-Rs with shows (not the same amount of CDs) and have no trouble getting through.

I would like to here your advice or tales of travelling with collections of DVD-Rs or CD-Rs and the troubles you have had.

[Note I have posted this question on a few other forums]

Thanks

Skippy

[shoeboy]

Can't you just say they are back ups of dvds you actually own but dont want to lose while traveling?

[blackjack]

Aust and NZ copyright laws a alittle different (well NZ is not 100% sure about aust), you can not make a backup copy of anything that is protected even for personal use, this means in theory you can not even copy a cd onto a tape to listen to in the car. I have a large number of illegal movies so i am interested in the answer to, does customs actually care?, and can you say that you made the backup copy in a country where the laws are different.

[Skippy]

I think telling it is a backup will likely not work under close inspection. Honestly with about 300+, they would just roll their eyes. If about 20 - yea they would probally believe.

Here is an portion of an article that I found that gets my Paranoia running rampant.
From http://www.if.com.au/press/2004/11/12.html
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On October 23, Victoria Police arrested and charged four people for selling illegal copies of DVD movies at a large market in Melbourne. Over 1,500 discs were seized and the defendants were charged with �dealing with proceeds of crime� offences under the Victorian Crimes Act.

On October 28, Queensland Police raided the residence of a Brisbane man and seized over 700 illegal DVDs that had been imported from Malaysia. Australia Customs Services in NSW had recently intercepted a Fedex package containing 500 illegal DVDs addressed to the residence of the Brisbane man. This was one of eleven such packages alleged to be addressed to the same residence which had been intercepted by Customs over the past 12 months.

On November 1, a joint operation by Australian Customs Services and Australian Federal Police resulted in the interception at Brisbane International Airport of two Queensland University of Technology students returning from China. One student was carrying computer equipment containing eight DVD-R burners. The second student was carrying 1,200 pirated DVD movies and a subsequent search of his Newmarket, Brisbane address resulted in the seizure of additional discs, and computer equipment containing eight DVD-R burners. All discs and equipment were seized.

On November 4, Australian Federal Police, with the assistance of Victoria Police, raided two premises in St Albans, Melbourne. In one location over 5,000 counterfeit DVDs, and DVD burning equipment were seized including 18 DVD-R burners, four hard drives, four computer monitors and three printers. A man was charged with Copyright offences and bailed to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 18. Bail conditions included a ban on attending any market in Victoria.

Victoria Police also arrested the man and his wife for an outstanding warrant on a previous movie piracy charge. Police enquiries continue in relation to the second St Albans location where police seized one computer, seven DVD-R burners and three printers.

On November 7, Victoria Police raided the home in Wantirna South of a man alleged to be selling pirate DVDs at the Dandenong and Caribbean markets, catching the man in the alleged act of downloading a pirate movie 'master' from the Internet. Police seized computers, DVD burners, printers, and around 3,000 discs and charged the man and his female companion with �dealing with proceeds of crime� offences under the Victorian Crimes Act. This raid followed the previous arrest and charging of both the accused by Victoria Police at a Melbourne market on October 23. The man and his female partner were allegedly identified selling pirate DVDs at another market in Melbourne the day after their arrest on October 23. Bail was granted on condition the two accused not come within 100 metres of any market in Victoria.

On November 9, in a continuing operation linked by Police to the St Albans raids on November 4, Australian Federal Police raided an address in Mount Waverley, Melbourne, catching a man in the alleged act of downloading a movie �master� from the Internet. The man was arrested and charged with nine counts under the Copyright Act. Police seized 30 DVD burners, five printers, five computers, and over 4,000 discs. Bail conditions included the accused not being permitted within 200 metres of any market in Victoria.

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There is more at the above link if you want to read.

And to answer some questions. NO I will not be selling or bootlegging any copys. The DVDs are strickly for my viewing pleasure and at the most any friends that want to watch with me.

Skippy