RIYADH, 2 July — Information Minister Dr. Fuad Abdul Salam Al-Farsi has ordered the closure of nine video shops in various parts of the country after they failed to heed repeated warnings against violating copyright regulations.
Six of the shops ordered shut are in Jeddah, two in Riyadh and one in the Eastern Province.
The Information Ministry withdrew the licenses of the shops and fined them SR30,000 each. Expatriate employees at the shops were deported on charges of repeatedly violating copyright regulations.
The minister ordered another 157 shops in various cities to pay fines ranging from SR5,000 to SR20,000 for copyright violations. The shops were also ordered shut for seven to 20 days and were warned that if they were found guilty of repeating the offense, they would be closed forever.
Ayed Al-Ghamdi, director of financial monitoring department at the ministry, told Arab News that the ministry officials had charged more than 100 shops in different parts of the country with copyright offenses in the past two weeks. He said the shops were found copying videocassettes illegally.
“They were also found marketing unauthorized copies of video films in violation of copyright rules,” he added.
Among the shops raided, 61 were in the Eastern Province, Al-Ghamdi said. He added that 29 shops in Alkhobar, Thaqba, Ruhaima and Ras Tannura were closed down temporarily.
Many other shops were also given warning for selling illegal material. The shops were located in Shaqra, Darma, Dawadmi, Afif, Marrat, Muzahamiya, Quwaieyya and Rowaida.
Al-Ghamdi said the ministry officials also checked a number of shops in the Qassim region, especially in Zulfi, Majma and Artawiya. Shops in Wadi Al-Dawasir, Saleel, Houtat Bani Tameem and Alkharj were also inspected. He said the shops were found selling unauthorized copies of Playstation discs and musical videos.
The employees at all the shops were expatriates. This constitutes violation of rules regarding Saudization of jobs in video shops.
