NR-HQ-00-04E

Illegal copying of nautical charts ends in conviction

February 16, 2000

OTTAWA -- For the first time in Canada, an individual has been convicted of Crown copyright infringement under the Copyright Act.

A man from Parksville, B.C., recently pled guilty to three counts of illegally copying, selling and distributing CDs containing copyrighted data from the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), a part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He received a six month jail sentence, to be served within the community on a conditional sentence, and 75 hours of community service.

Tony O’Connor, Director General of CHS, which is a part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said the conviction is an example of the CHS’s new, get tough policy against the illegal copying of its digital and paper charts.

"It’s important that people understand that copying CHS’s electronic charts is against the law, just as the theft of any property is against the law. These charts are Crown property and their sales help fund important CHS charting activity throughout Canada."

Mr. O’Connor also said that for safety reasons the public should ensure it purchases only official CHS charts identified with the digital ocean™ sign.

"Data can become corrupted in the copying and boaters can end up using faulty charts. This can put the safety, and even the lives, of boaters at risk. People should also be aware that software viruses in these illegal CDs can damage their computers," he said.

The CHS has extensive quality control procedures in place to ensure its charts are of the highest quality. Only official digital ocean™ CDs produced and distributed by Nautical Data International, a private company that is the sole distributor and licensor of the CDs, are warranted by the CHS.

For more information about the Canadian Hydrographic Service, please visit the CHS website: http://www.chs-shc.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 For more information about Nautical Data International, please visit the NDI website: http://www.ndi.nf.ca