Background

This, the first programme in a series on modern day piracy, follows the world's first dedicated K9 anti-piracy unit as it undertakes a unique initiative by the Malaysian Government to establish a dedicated unit, fighting on the frontline in the country's war against IPR theft by DVD, VDC and optical disc piracy.

We follow the journey of a select number of special dogs, trained in Northern Ireland, sent out to join the K9 Unit, ultimately working on the steamy streets of Kuala Lumpur. We see the challenges faced along the way, explore the science and share in the results of a world-first in Asia.

The story provides unique insight into the training, the journey half way round the world, and the dramatic twists as a dedicated team is put in place. We see the dangers, the successes, and more than a few unexpected twists and turns — a major initiative led by 'mans best friend'.

We also touch on the science behind the dog's special abilities: all dogs have an acute sense of smell, but what gives these dogs the unique ability to sniff out a DVD or CD, and how is that sense developed?

We look at how pirate movie and music syndicates operate in Asia, and the threat they pose not just to the Hollywood film and TV industries, but to film and TV production worldwide.

We conclude with the successes racked up by the dogs as they operate in the field for up to a year, and what other initiatives are underway to combat piracy in all its forms.

Pirate Trackers will continue as a series to look at Internet piracy and the technology involved, pharmaceutical piracy and the life and death dangers it poses globally, luxury goods piracy which eats into the integrity of trusted brands, and (fake) component piracy that compromises transport safety from cars right though to all areas of machinery that we rely on, among others.

Production

Pirate Trackers is being produced by Daiyat.com Limited, a Hong Kong-based production company.

[More details and producer / director bios will be posted shortly]