What happens when you buy a pirated DVD of the latest blockbuster from the nearest railway station or a footpath close to home? Would you end up saving more than what you would have spent on a legitimate copy? Yes, but in the process you could also have helped to fund an anti-social activity – perhaps another 9/11 or 7/11! Shocked? Don’t be! Read on to find out what we’re talking about. Loss of jobs and damage to the movie and publishing industry apart, consumer support to piracy helps destroy the social fabric and developmental initiatives across the world. The tragedy is that most people are blissfully unaware of the far-reaching impact of something as mundane as watching a pirated version of the latest flick. While there is considerable documentary evidence to prove that film and music piracy is a major contributor to funding terrorist activities, what is even more alarming is the fact that profit percentages in this seemingly innocent enterprise are much higher than nefarious ones like drug-peddling. Intelligence reports suggest funding of LLT from illegal Hindi and Tamil film music and a strong nexus between the perpetrators of music piracy in Europe, USA, and Pakistan with terrorist organizations. Spine chilling facts -
4,000 prosecutions in India in 2003, with 500 convictions pertaining to piracy.
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Out of the 4.9 crore cassettes manufactured and sold in the country, 1.6 crore are illegal.
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Since 2001, the music industry piracy caused losses of 462 million dollars in 3 years.
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In March and April of 2006 alone, the Video Federation of India and Motion Picture Association India conducted over 25 raids in Delhi and Mumbai.
What can be done? -
Consumer education and awareness.
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Introduction of tamper-proof and non-reproducible holograms to help consumers identify genuine DVDs and CDs.
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Stringent prosecution by law-enforcement agencies.
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Encouraging consumers to tip-off law-enforcement agencies about the sale of illegal DVDs and CDs. Would you be more watchful the next time you buy a DVD? What according to you is the role consumers can play in combating music and video piracy?
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