Hong Kong Customs officers have shut down a pirated online gaming operation, arresting a 34-year-old man and seizing seven Internet servers and five computers, worth $77,000, from a Tung Chung flat.

Officers raided the flat on June 23 after receiving reports from a copyright owner who suspected infringing game servers had been set up for Internet users. It is the first infringement case of its kind.

After receiving the complaint, officers found a website which allowed Internet users to download the pirated programme of an online game. Once it was downloaded, the user's computer would be connected to the infringing game servers to allow online registration and gameplay.

The website had been operating for more than seven months and had 30,000 registered members. Its operation is similar to the original game with the only difference being the infringing game members had to deposit money to a bank account to buy points for virtual weapons. The points were much cheaper than the original game's.

To evade detection the Internet protocol address of the website was registered in the US, while the IP address of servers for storage and distribution were registered in Hong Kong.

The arrested man has been released on $5,000 bail.