Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 7, 2008 6:07:45 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

DVD Dogs Sniff Out Pirates

Posted Jul 12, 08 8:27 AM CDT in World,  Crime & Courts,  Technology 

(Newser) – Two dogs trained to sniff out counterfeit DVDs are so good at their jobs that infuriated pirates have put a bounty on their heads, Wired reports. The dogs—Labrador retrievers who were taught to detect the scent of polycarbonate—have helped locate millions of fake discs hidden in warehouses and underground disc-duplication operations in the US, Malaysia, and the Czech Republic, helping put dozens of counterfeiters behind bars.

The pooches' success has inspired cops around the world to start up their own canine disc-sniffing units. The Motion Picture Association of America's anti-piracy boss got the idea in 2004 when he thought back to the bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs he encountered as a federal prosecutor. They still can't tell pirated from authentic DVDs, though—and forget sniffing out illegal downloads.

Source Wired

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Dogs Have a Nose for Pirates

    Aug 31, 07 7:05 PM CDT
    Dogs Have a Nose for Pirates The NYPD's two cutest agents busted what cops say was a counterfeit DVD operation this week, heralding a new era in anti-piracy enforcement. Lucky and Flo, two black Labs trained to sniff out chemicals in DVDs, are just back from Malaysia, where they led authorities to 26 arrests on 35 raids. The canine cops have been called "very talented crime fighters," Wired reports. More »

Two black labrador dogs, Lucky and Flo, sit next to boxes containing pirated optical discs after the "Operation Double Trouble" demonstration at the main air cargo complex in Sepang, Malaysia,   (AP Photo/Andy Wong, FILE)
Manny, a DVD-sniffing Malaysian dog, died last month aged 1 and foul play by counterfeiters is suspected.   (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Flo, a DVD sniffer dog, waits for her reward after finding a box of pirated discs in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Pirate DVD dog sniffers on patrol.   (itn)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

dog  • DVD  • DVD piracy  • Motion Picture Association of America  • counterfeiters  • canine units


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Technology Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »