The Matrix Revolutions has already gone on the black market

The UK Film Council has issued the plea in the wake of reports that seizures of fake DVDs have increased four-fold this year compared to 2002.

"Pirate DVDs and videos are often well-packaged but extremely poor quality," said UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward.

Fake DVDs can be identified by the lack of a BBFC certification marker.

DVDs such as The Matrix: Revolutions have hit the black market, days after a cinema release.

The quality of the products can be poor because they have been illegally filmed from cinema screens by hand-held cameras.

The UK Film Council is keen to stress that all areas of the film industry are affected by piracy, not just the pockets of the big Hollywood studios.

It also leaves less money to spend on new productions, according to the organisation.

Shoddy goods

Sales of DVD players have doubled in the past year, with an estimated 25% of all homes owning one.

But with the rise came the inevitable increase in pirated DVDs.

The Federation Against Copyright Theft seized 1,225,654 pirate DVDs this year - up 389% on this time last year.

It estimates a third of UK DVDs are illegal copies bought at car boot sales and markets.

"Pirate film copies may seem a bargain but they are usually shoddy goods, which threaten UK jobs and film production and help fund organised crime," Mr Woodward added.

"The only people who really benefit from film fakes are the criminals doing the counterfeiting."

Films minister Estelle Morris said consumers had a "crucial role" to play in stamping out the illegal trade.