Liked the trial of Lucky and Flo last year so much that it decided to order a pair to work full-time.
Last year the MPAA-trained anti-piracy canines Lucky and Flo made headlines around the world as they traveled around Southeast Asia fighting evil movie pirates at every turn. Now satisfied with the results and anxious to be removed from a US watch list of countries who abuse intellectual property rights, the Malaysian Government announced today the establishment of a dedicated DVD-sniffing canine unit to detect pirated DVDs. It will be the first of its kind in the world and has been set up within the Enforcement Division at the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA).
It will be comprised of two Labrador sniffer dogs named Paddy and Manny who are similar in breed and training as the much-heralded Lucky and Flo and come courtesy of the "generous" people od the MPAA.
The use of dogs trained in optical disc detection was first mooted by the MPA in October 2004. In 2007, the Malaysian Government joined forces with the MPA to test the capabilities of these canines. The trial program, code-named Operation Double Trouble, saw the introduction of the world’s first dogs trained to detect optical discs, Lucky and Flo.
Introduced in March 2007, for what was initially meant to be a month-long initiative, Lucky and Flo ended up serving for 6 months. In that time, their keen noses led to 26 arrests and the seizure of 1.6 million discs, 5 replicating machines and 97 burners in the country. It was the achievements of Lucky and Flo that prompted the Malaysian Government to consider the establishment of a dedicated K-9 unit, aimed at strengthening MDTCA’s enforcement efforts.
“For us at the MPA, the establishment of this K-9 unit is a major step forward in our fight against piracy. In Malaysia it is particularly important given the close relationship we have with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. It’s a relationship that can only flourish as we take our cooperation to the next level,” said Chairman and CEO Dan Glickman for the Motion Picture Association of America.
“If the world – and to be sure the optical disc pirate syndicates – were impressed by the abilities Lucky and Flo, let me just say that Paddy and Manny are just as impressive,” he added.
What will be interesting is whether or not the bounties placed on Lucky and Flo by crime bosses harmed by previous anti-piracy efforts will be placed on Paddy and Manny. Considering they will be permanent fixtures in the country and thereby liable to cause much, much more damage to the pirated movie industry the answer is sure to be yes. Will this mean that Paddy and Manny will be placed under permanent protective guard and will it be consistent and monitored enough so that they don’t end up "sleeping with the fishes?"
Time will tell, but if I were Paddy and Manny I’d plan for the worst.
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It looks like they are about to kiss in that picture..
I hope they are not targeted.. I wonder what’s behind making Malaysia concerned about video pirates?
Countries like Malaysia are notoriously corrupt all the way to the top. I’m guessing this is a lot of “show” coupled with the cops/customs officials/ministers/etc. making a boatload of money by turning a blind eye to enough of this activity.
Do you really think THEY care if HOLLYWOOD loses money? Are you serious?
People have killed eachother for less it’s a sad thing to say but I don’t think those dogs will see a year of service if they have anywhere near the track record that the other two had to be bloody honest though I have no idea how those dogs lived through 6 months of raids unscathed without the bosses sending in some clown to blow away the dogs as a ‘rite of passage’ you know there are idiots out there who would do it to get a piece of the boss’ pie…
I dislike the thought of hurting animals but if they put too much of a cramp on the underworld especially in a place like Malaysia they’ll just make the dogs ‘disappear’.
Propaganda………. Iz All.