Ministry vows massive crackdown on copyright pirates<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Bandung<\/p>\n
Indonesia, realizing its image has been tarnished by becoming the
\nworld's third largest producer of pirated software and other
\ncopyrighted materials, was committed to conducting a nation-wide
\ncrackdown on the contraband, an official said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Justice ministry copyright director Emawati Junus said that
\ncivil servant investigators throughout the country would team up
\nwith local police and prosecutors to launch a crackdown after the
\nnew copyright protection law took effect in July.<\/p>\n
After one year of public education, law No.19\/2002 on
\ncopyright protection comes into effect on July 29, 2003. The law
\nstipulates a more severe punishment against acts of piracy.<\/p>\n
\"Once the law takes effect, the joint teams will collect
\nevidence of pirated materials from vendors,\" Emawati told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
She said investigations would first center on major stores
\nwhich were supposed to sell original materials. A warning letter
\nwould given to stores selling counterfeit products.<\/p>\n
\"If they give no response after three warning letters, police
\nwill confiscate all of their merchandise,\" she said, adding that
\ncharges would be filed afterwards.<\/p>\n
Emawati said that as selling pirated materials was a major
\nsource of income for many people, the implementation of the new
\nlaw would be gradual.<\/p>\n
She, however, was quick to add that according to the new law,
\nthe legal process against piracy would be sped up to deliver
\njustice.<\/p>\n
\"Under the new law, a legal dispute regarding copyright
\nviolation will be handled by the Commercial Court which must
\nsettle the case in no more than 90 days,\" she said, adding that
\nunder existing laws the legal process might take years to
\ncomplete.<\/p>\n
The United States has already placed Indonesia on its priority
\nwatch list over piracy activities. A recent report from the
\nBusiness Software Alliance claimed that software developers
\nsuffered losses of US$80 million in Indonesia in 2001.<\/p>\n
Separately, Association of Indonesian Recording Industry
\nrepresentative Arnel said that in 2002 the level of piracy
\nagainst recorded materials had reached 1000 percent -- for every
\noriginal there were 10 pirated versions.<\/p>\n
He noted that the figure of pirated recording materials stood
\nat 363 million, dwarfing sales of originals, which only reached
\n34.2 million.<\/p>\n
Emawati told The Post that the ministry had completed drafting
\ngovernment regulations for the implementation of the new law.<\/p>\n
\"The drafts only need the approval from President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri to take effect.\"<\/p>\n
The government regulations set further guidelines on the
\nestablishment of a Council on Copyrights to educate people. It
\nalso designates the government as the sole holder of Indonesia
\nfolklore.<\/p>\n
Emawati said the law was intended to save Indonesia's standing
\nin the international economy.<\/p>\n
\"This law is also aimed at boosting the creativity of the
\nIndonesian people to develop themselves in arts and technology,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>",
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