K
Kunoichi
Guest
Wednesday October 27, 2010
Pirated DVD buyers guilty, too
KUALA LUMPUR: Those who buy pirated CDs and DVDs are equally guilty of breaking the law as those who sell them. The Government, therefore, is thinking of taking stiffer action against the buyers. Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Daud Tahir said currently a person could be held liable of infringement if he or she kept three or more pirated DVDs or CDs deemed for commercial purposes, unless proven otherwise.
“We are studying whether to hold a person liable of infringement if he or she has in possession just a single disc that is deemed to be for commercial purposes,” he told reporters at a forum, themed Contraband/Counterfeit Issue: A Worrisome Trend Affecting Foreign Investor Confidence in Malaysia, organised by the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) here yesterday.
Panellists at the forum comprised representatives from Pfizer, Philip Morris, Microsoft, eBay and Shearn Delamore. “We are in the process of reviewing the law (under the Copyright Act) by getting public and industry opinions on the matter,” said Daud. “The public complains that the prices of CDs and DVDs are expensive.
I hope related industries must also be proactive to review what is the ‘right’ price for DVDs and CDs to encourage consumer to buy original products,” said Daud. He added that for the sellers, the Government had already imposed higher penalties and imprisonment.
On the ground, Daud said the ministry’s enforcement officers were working with other agencies, such as the Customs Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to tackle the problem. Amcham president Datuk Nicholas Zefferys felt the matter (of imposing heavier penalties on consumers) would need an expanded audience and more time to deliberate.
“We must include all stakeholders, including the Customs,” he said. On the pharmaceutical front, Pfizer global security senior director Scott Davis said the manufacturing of counterfeit medicine was one of the worst crimes against humanity. He described it as a great threat to health.
Philip Morris (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd director of corporate affairs Richard James said the illicit cigarette trade had reached a record level of more than 37% of the total industry as of last year. He said a global tobacco report by the Goldman Sachs Group showed that Malaysia had the highest incidences of illicit cigarette trade.
