Grey market: Customs officers seize 162 parallel-import discs after raiding 12 shops in Mong Kok, Kwai Chung and Wan Chai.

Customs officers have arrested 12 men for selling parallel-import CDs. They seized 162 discs after raiding 12 shops in Mong Kok, Kwai Chung and Wan Chai yesterday.

Aged 22 to 49, seven of the men were shop owners and the rest were shop assistants.

The Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 came into force July 6 making it an offence to: sell, hire or distribute for profit parallel imported copies of any copyright work, except computer software; import parallel imported copies of any copyright work, except software, for dealing in the copies; or, import or possess parallel imported copies of movies, television dramas, musical sound or visual recordings for playing or showing in public if such acts are done within 15 months from the date the copyright work was first published.

Anyone contravening the ordinance is liable to four years' jail and a $50,000 fine per infringing copy.