MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTERS OF CHEAP IMITATION TAPES USE LABELS AND NAMES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE QUALITY NAME BRANDS IN ORDER TO FOOL BUYERS. THE LAW IS NOT CLEAR REGARDING IMITATIONS SINCE THIS ACTIVITY IS NOT CONSIDERED COUNTERFEITING. MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTING COPIES OF PRERECORDED TAPES IS CONSIDERED COUNTERFEITING, HOWEVER, AND LITTLE EXPENSE IS INVOLVED IN COPYING A QUALITY SET, PURCHASING MONITORING EQUIPMENT, AND SELLING THE TAPES. VIDEO TAPES ARE MADE AND SOLD OF FIRST RUN MOVIES WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION. THE MARKET FOR VIDEO TAPES IS NOT LARGE SINCE VIDEO CASSETTE PLAYERS ARE STILL EXPENSIVE, AND HOTELS AND TAVERNS ARE THE MOST COMMON BUYERS. TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF VIDEO TAPING 35 MILLIMETER MOVIE FILMS ARE DISCUSSED AS WELL AS WAYS OF PROCURING FIRST RUN MOVIES. THIS KIND OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY VIOLATES THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW AND CARRIES A RELATIVELY LIGHT PENALTY WHILE POSSIBLE PROFITS ARE HIGH. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES CAN INVOLVE LOCAL POLICE INDIRECTLY IN ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THIS TYPE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. (DAG)