The First Hall of the Civil Court yesterday decided in favour of film companies after a writ was filed over the importation of 274 DVDs which were pirated material.

The writ was filed by lawyer Patrick Galea in the name of Disney Enterprises, Metro-Goldywn-Mayer Pictures, Paramount Pictures Corp., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Tristar Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal City Studios, Warner Brothers, Division of Time Warner Ent.

The case was filed after Alexander Camilleri brought 274 DVDs to Malta in his luggage and declared them. Customs officials had doubts as to whether the material was of original quality and further investigation confirmed their suspicions.

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco ruled that copyright had been breached and ordered the destruction of the material.

He turned down a claim for damages.