(Berlin, 2 May 2005) The "Movie thieves are Criminals" campaign continues apace. As in previous years, the successful informative road show “Prison on Tour” is being staged once again this summer. There’s also a new campaign poster that will appear in cinemas and video stores throughout Germany to increase awareness of the problem of copyright theft. In addition, eBay and the film industry are increasingly co-operating in the effort. For example, as part of the new RESPE©T COPYRIGHTS campaign, an information page was added to the eBay website today in the category “Films & DVDs” to inform buyers and sellers about the subject of copyright theft and file-sharing.

In the year 2005, the film industry intends to continue its successful campaign against copyright violations. The package of measures including criminal prosecution, increased security measures and awareness raising efforts is being expanded continually. The German Federation against Copyright Theft (Gesellschaft zur Verfolgung von Urheberrechtsverletzungen e.V., GVU) is redoubling its efforts against movie thieves: Between
January and March 158,615 illegal copies were confiscated, 703 court cases were introduced and 527 premises searched – a considerable increase over 2004.

To follow up on this success, the Zukunft Kino Marketing GmbH has produced a new poster as part of its "Movie thieves are Criminals" campaign that makes it clear: Movie thieves are treading on thin ice. The poster depicts a young man bracing himself against two black beams that seem to be crushing him. The caption below him states: "In 2003, new copyright laws went into effect. Thousands of homes were searched, millions of illegal copies were confiscated, several thousand prosecutions were initiated, and many movie thieves were sentenced. Things are getting tight, mate."

The end of the line for Flatline and Sharesville
Also under tremendous pressure is the release group "Flatline" (FTL), one of the main participants in the illegal copy business. On 20 April 2005, with the help of the GVU, FTL was defeated. Within a single year, FTL had grown into one of the top addresses for downloading films illegally and had been responsible for publishing pirated copies of many current cinema
films in Germany. The 32-year-old head of the group with the nickname "Mrb" was led away in handcuffs after attempting to destroy evidence; "Slymer", the network administrator and video and sound editor, was arrested in his high school classroom after completing his final examinations. Extensive evidence was found in their apartments in Herne and Höxter.

The Association of Film Distributors (Verband der Filmverleiher e.V., VdF) is now taking civil action against Internet portals. Numerous cease and desist orders have been issued. “By taking steps against gateway websites such as Burningboard.net we hope to strike a significant blow against the distribution structure for pirated copies of films. We have also increased our undercover work within the file-sharing sites themselves in order to secure the
appropriate evidence,” said Johannes Klingsporn, managing director of the VdF.

One site that has already been hit is www.sharesville.org, one of the first Internet portals to offer links to illegal copies of films, making it easy for users to download them. The website was shut down, and its operators in Dormagen were sentenced to a fine of 5,500 euros.

Co-operation with eBay
Prosecution and stricter security measures are just two components of the package the film industry has put together. Increasing awareness continues to be another major focus of the campaign. “During our ‘Bootleggers are criminals’ campaign we noticed there is a great demand for information on the subject of file-sharing and copyright violations,” said Dr. Elke Esser. "That’s why we initiated the RESPE©T COPYRIGHTS campaign. First we developed educational programmes, then we carried out a number of promotional activities in cinemas and video stores, all part of the RESPE©T COPYRIGHTS campaign, to say thank you to paying cinema-goers for watching the original films."

The awareness campaign is now receiving additional support through a new co-operative effort with eBay. Beginning immediately, interested parties can obtain extensive information on the subject of file-sharing and copyright violations on a “RESPE©T COPYRIGHTS” information page in the Film & DVD section of the eBay website. The page also offers a number of services, for
example the opportunity for users to report suspicious products to the GVU via e-mail. eBay also offers links to users for reporting illegal offers.

Beginning in May, as part of the "Initiative for the Protection of Originals", eBay will hold charity auctions on the subject of “Cinema and Movies” in its "Stars & Charity" section. The first of these is the "RESPE©T COPYRIGHTS Star Wars Package": Beginning on May 2, Star Wars fans can bid on the unique RESPE©T COPYRIGHTS shirt that grants admission to one of THE film
events of 2005, the premiere of "Star Wars - Episode III – The Revenge of the Sith". The winner of the auction will stroll down the red carpet with the stars of the film and other VIPs, will be photographed with the Storm Troopers, and will enjoy five-star service in a luxurious room at
the elegant Berlin Marriott Hotel where he/she will spend the night.

"Behind Bars at Home" is the theme beginning in August, when the informational prison cell used in the "Prison on Tour" road show will be sold on eBay. The winner of the auction will be allowed to install the cell in his or her home for a day, invite friends to “do some time” and present them with free cinema tickets. As a special highlight, Sylwia von Wildburg and Egon
Hofmann, the well known stars of the RTL television series “Behind Bars – the Women’s Prison”, will be on hand to serve as prison guards. In proper style, they will serve bread and water to the “prisoners” and tell them about their experiences "Behind Bars".