The various vendors on the streets of Kingston are enough to fill the National Stadium. However, men who sell bootleg DVDs are more than just your typical hustler on the street.

THE WEEKEND STAR spoke to DVD vendors who admitted knowing they were putting their freedom at risk by selling 'pirated' movies on the streets. However, they say jobs are hard to come by and it is their only means of making money.

Gary, said the main reason they sell their DVDs is that it is a faster means of making a little money to even buy a loaf of bread. He said selling DVDs is not as profitable as it used to be because there are a lot of persons selling them on the streets.

illegal

He is aware that it is illegal because he was brought to the court before for exposing goods without a licence.

He was charged for breaching the Copyright Act but pleaded not guilty because he wasn't directly selling the movies. He said at the time he was just walking with them and was on his way to buy some goods. The case was, therefore, thrown out of court. However, he knows that it is illegal to sell DVDs on the streets.

The vendor said after the police take their goods, they in turn give other persons the seized movies to sell.

The vendor said "depending on how the day set during the week, nuh much cah mek compared to Friday and Saturday."

He makes at least $20,000 on weekends.

He explained "you have to back yuh stock and yuh affi buy blank case, print back a label, pay worker and spend like $5,000". He said, "If mi neva satisfied, I would be in something else. It betta dan work."

Another vendor said there is no other means by which he can get a job and can get and he needs to take care of himself. He, however, doesn't believe it is an illegal activity.

"a nuh nuttin bad mi a do, but it come in like a war between the police."

He said if one could not cope with the police, then it was better if that person found another means of earning a living.