SikhSpectrum.com Quarterly Issue No.22, November 2005
US Ruling Targets Travelers Carrying Pirated Items
Danny Chan
The Philippine embassy in the United States has issued a caveat against entering America with pirated items. The embassy’s announcement on Oct. 7, which followed a travel advisory from the US Commercial Service, stated anyone caught with pirated goods faces “automatic deportation in violation of intellectual property rights, or arrest and criminal prosecution, in addition to civil fines and penalties.”
The embassy mentioned that US Customs officials were on the lookout for “fake designer bags like Louis Vuitton, Coach, Gucci, Prada, etc. as well as cosmetics,” as well as such innocuous items as audio and video discs, name-brand fashion accessories, cosmetics and books.
The American embassy in Manila said pirated goods would be seized at US ports of entry in accordance with the US government’s Intellectual Property Rights or anti-piracy laws.
“Pirated materials are not allowed to be brought into the US—from clothing, books, CDs and DVDs,” Matthew Lussenhop, an embassy press attaché, told the press. Following complaints from the American Association of Publishers, US Customs officials have moreover been asked to look out for “pirated books” being brought into the country.
The announcement prompted the Philippine embassy to caution Philippine nursing graduates planning to write the National Council Licensure Exam and the Commission on Graduate Foreign Nursing Schools exam in the US against bringing pirated reviewer books into the country. Members of the community have received an e-mail over the past several weeks cautioning that any pirated literature would be confiscated. The e-mail further advised against bringing gifts such as fake or pirated CDs or DVDs into the US.
The Philippine embassy referred to an instance in which a Philippine national was detained by the Department of Homeland Security after officials found 80 CDs, 20 DVDs and 10 empty DVD jackets in his bag after arriving in Detroit aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 72.
Foreign nationals who violate the ban will have their visas revoked and face immediate deportation; American nationals will be arrested and prosecuted, according to the embassy. The Philippine embassy further advised Filipinos traveling overseas to bring a second identification card along with a passport to ensure prompt entry into the US.
