Business end-user piracy draws criminal liability in Hong Kong

Activities which specifically draw liability under the Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance are those relating to computer programs, movies, television dramas and musical recordings and/or possession of an illegal copy of a copyright work for use in business without the copyright owner’s authorisation. A further type of end-user piracy related to books, newspapers, periodicals and the like is expected to come in to effect later this year.

Under the Ordinance, directors and partners may be held personally responsible for acts of piracy committed by a body corporate or partnership if they were responsible for the internal management of the entity at the time of the violation.