Hundreds of jobs have been lost in Northern Ireland because of counterfeit goods flooding the market, it was claimed today.
Mr David Martin, Director of Anti-Piracy at the British Phonographic Industry, said scores of independent record shops were going out of business because of the trade in illegal CDs, videos and DVDs.
"It is the small shops that are going out of business. They can't compete against pirates who have no overheads. I can't quantify the number of jobs lost in Northern Ireland but it certainly must amount to hundreds of jobs," he said.
He was speaking at the unveiling of a British government campaign urging the public not to buy counterfeit goods this Christmas.
Security Minister and Chair of the Organised Crime Task Force Ms Jane Kennedy reminded the public that buying fake products was directly benefiting paramilitaries in Northern Ireland.
"Don't line the pockets of these criminals. If you don't know the origins of the products you are buying, then don't buy them. When you are purchasing counterfeit goods this Christmas".
PA