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Piracy Raid in Mexican Market

Rob Crossley's picture

By Rob Crossley

November 11, 2008

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A 40-man raid operation by Mexico's Federal Investigations Agency has led to the recovery of 91,200 illicit copies of video games, 130,000 cover inserts and 3,200 empty game boxes. The items were taken from the bustling San Juan de Dios Market in Guadalajara, capital city of the state of Jalisco.

Mexican law enforcement officers (Agencia Federal de Investigación) had worked with the Entertainment Software Association to carry out the operation. The ESA praised both Mexico's FIA and the Office of the Attorney General for the successful raids.

“Piracy in markets such as San Juan de Dios hurts businesses engaging in the legitimate distribution and retailing of computer and video games,” says ESA ceo Michael Gallagher, "we commend Mexican law enforcement officials for their actions in this raid and are committed to fully supporting authorities around the world who conduct these kinds of enforcement actions.”

The San Juan de Dios Market has gained notoriety for the trading of pirated games. The ESA had previously conducted investigations in the area during the months preceding the raid.

John_Ryan's picture
On November 12th John_Ryan said:

Keep it up. When I was in mexico, piracy was everywhere and in plan sight for everyone to see. It will take a lot of work, but it really needs to be stopped.

German's picture
On November 11th German said:

Awesome, being from Mexico this kind of action are what we need to become a bigger and more important market in the video game industry. I believe we are in the top 10 already and for what I read video game sales in Mexico will close near the billion mark by 2010 or earlier.

Jaumpasama's picture
On November 11th Jaumpasama said:

I don't know how it is in Mexico, but here in Ecuador you're lucky if you get any original new 360 releases for less than $100. In comparison, the country's minimum wage is $240. So obviously, I'd say about 99% of all games sold here are illegal copies. The same happens with movies. I think it's ridiculous to ask someone in these kind of economies to pay $40 for a movie, just so Tom Cruise can get his $20 million paycheck. It's not right, nor fair.

Similar issues arise with non entertainment software, such as computer programs (Autocad, etc.), in which case it's even worse, since some people need those tools to work. In some places, piracy is not a crime. It's a necessity.

Mikail Yazbeck's picture
On November 11th Mikail Yazbeck said:

Haha bravo, but keep at it, because these sellers will be back.

I remember how the authorities in my neighborhood in Istanbul cracked down on store fronts and obvious illicit sales of pirated games(yes only games, not movies, they still don't care about illegal movie sales) only to have the sellers creep into other areas of the same street the crackdown took place on.

These people do this for a living, they do not intend on giving it up when still make a decent profit on it.

But then again if you are a gamer in Istanbul you have two options.

1. Purchase 3-6 month old imported PC games at premium outlets for roughly 75($55ish) to 135($95ish) YTL(New Turkish Lyra).

or

2. Go to these sellers and buy New games before they are released in the USA for around $3.

What's the solution, Publishers need to bite the bullet and and release games at a price point that makes sense for the region, not what makes sense in Dollars & Cents.

Also releasing an ad campaign that appeals peoples' inherent sense of honor, so that they will buy legitimate copies.

With a guilt trip ad campaign and a sensitive price, I am confident that it would combat piracy.

And ESA if you are listening, I would love to spearhead that campaign.

~~~~
As for me, what do I do?
I have my brother purchase games for me on services such a D2D in America and then I download them where ever I am. :)
or I haggle the price down at the only legitimate store in my area.