Music piracy gets more notorious and gets going<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A fellow reporter had a bad experience when purchasing a tape in
\na record outlet. A couple of months ago, he went to a big, well-
\nknown store to buy the original soundtrack to the movie I am Sam.<\/p>\n
\"But when I got home and played the tape, I was shocked. The
\nsongs were not in the right order as it began from the middle. I
\nwas so furious! I bought it for the same price as the original.
\nThe store also refused to give my money back,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Piracy is not a new thing for the record industry in this
\ncountry. You can find pirated CDs and tapes virtually everywhere.
\nThey can even be found in Senayan sports complex, which is just a
\nfew hundred meters from the Jakarta Police Headquarters on Jl.
\nJend. Sudirman, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
But recently, piracy has reached a whole new level, with
\ncounterfeit products (aspal) finding their way onto record store
\nshelves amid a rampant increase in availability.<\/p>\n
Unlike pirated products of the past which were clearly
\ndistinguished -- bad quality cover and all -- the counterfeit
\nitems of today ones look identical to the original. They even
\nhave tax stickers on them.<\/p>\n
However, if you look closer, you can find small flaws, as
\nhappened to singer Tere a while ago.<\/p>\n
During an autograph session a fan gave Tere a cover of her
\ndebut album Awal Yang Indah (A Beautiful Start) for her to sign.<\/p>\n
\"But the cover looked weird as the picture was unclear. The
\npaper was also different. When I asked the fan, she said she
\nbought it in a record store,\" said Tere, 23.<\/p>\n
Tere then asked her producer to contact police who then raided
\na retail store in Kuningan, South Jakarta, last month. The raids
\nled to further busts in Disc Tarra record stores and at several
\nfactories in Jakarta last month.<\/p>\n
The counterfeit products found at Disc Tarra were from local
\nartists. Beside Tere's, there were the soundtracks to local
\nmovies Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's Up With Cinta?), Ari Lasso's
\nSendiri Dulu (Alone For Now) and Dewa's Cintailah Cinta (Loving
\nLove).<\/p>\n
Police have arrested several suspects. The case is still under
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
Disc Tarra CEO Wirawan Hartono has said the company was only a
\ndistributor which bought the products from official agents
\nappointed by the producers.<\/p>\n
\"We've been working with them for years. Their products are
\nalways accompanied with documents certifying the originality.\"<\/p>\n
However, there has been an allegation that Disc Tarra is
\ninvolved in the production of counterfeit products.<\/p>\n
Wirawan denied the allegations, reiterating the company was
\nonly a retailer.<\/p>\n
While the situation was highlighted last month, the
\ndistribution of counterfeit tapes or CDs has been around for much
\nlonger.<\/p>\n
Sony Music Indonesia managing director Sutanto Hartono said
\nsome of the record company's products were pirated last year.<\/p>\n
\"Agents can return the albums from local artists to us if they
\nare not already sold. Last year, we found some were counterfeit.
\nBut when we traced it back to the agent, we couldn't find
\nanything,\" Sutanto said.<\/p>\n
He suspected the producers of counterfeit products were those
\nwho have been or are still involved in the music industry.<\/p>\n
\"The album cover is very difficult to fake. But now technology
\nis getting more sophisticated, with scanning machines and all,\"
\nhe said, adding the business of piracy had become particularly
\ncompetitive.<\/p>\n
These high-quality pirates have increased sales of counterfeit
\nproducts in this country.<\/p>\n
From 1995 to 1996, the rate of piracy was only 12 percent. The
\nlocal music industry peaked in that period, with nine to 10
\nmillion cassettes produced every month.<\/p>\n
But ever since the prolonged economic crisis first hit in
\n1997, the rate has soared higher.<\/p>\n
Data from the Anti Piracy Communication Forum (FOKAP) shows
\nthat piracy is currently 650 percent larger than the legal sales
\nof three million copies each month.<\/p>\n
The number is well up on the 558 percent figure last year.<\/p>\n
Piracy causes estimated financial losses of Rp 11 trillion
\n(US$1.196 billion) annually.<\/p>\n
Sutanto said piracy had made it difficult for record companies
\nto sell albums from new artists.<\/p>\n
\"We used to be able to sell up to 30,000 albums from new
\nartists. But now selling 10,000 copies is considered good. I'm
\nafraid things will get as bad as in Malaysia where piracy is
\nawful. The producers there now prefer to release compilation
\nalbums or rerelease old artists rather than new artists.\"<\/p>\n
The worsening situation has spurred FOKAP to increase its
\ncampaign to combat piracy. Comprising representatives from the
\nmusic industry, FOKAP was formed last April with the aim to
\nbolster failed efforts already undertaken by several
\norganizations, including Asiri (Indonesian Recording Industry
\nAssociation).<\/p>\n
FOKAP's head Arnell Affandi said the forum had already set a
\ntimetable in its battle against piracy.<\/p>\n
\"We've met legislators, police ... We've even sent a letter to
\nPresident Megawati (Soekarnoputri) but so far there hasn't been
\nany reply. Soon we'll launch a campaign on TV and radio, and
\nwe'll also reach the provinces\" Arnell said recently.<\/p>\n
The forum's plan to hold a special event called Satu Hari
\nTanpa Musik (A Day Without Music), scheduled Oct. 28, was called
\noff due to the Bali tragedy.<\/p>\n
\"Piracy is getting worse and it could spell the end of the
\nmusic industry in our country. As law enforcement is really weak
\nwe really need the President to issue a presidential decree,\"
\nArnell said.<\/p>\n
National Police Deputy Spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang
\nsaid the piracy was indeed very disturbing and it has always been
\nin the police agenda to combat it.<\/p>\n
\"We've seized millions of VCDs and CDs, we've also arrested so
\nmany people allegedly involved. Piracy is indeed a loss for the
\ncountry. We'll continue to work with Asiri and other
\norganizations,\" he said over a phone interview.<\/p>\n
So far, however, police effort has yet to show any result in
\ndecreasing piracy. The parties responsible for piracy also
\nremained unclear.<\/p>\n
Arnell said that since news covering about piracy sparked
\nlately, the pirate has been really careful.<\/p>\n
He added that FOKAP recently met the Indonesian Ulema Council
\n(MUI) to issue a fatwa (religious statement) that pirated
\nproducts were haram (forbidden) for Muslims.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that since the majority of Indonesians are Muslims,
\nthe people will listen. MUI really welcome our suggestion also,\"
\nArnell said.<\/p>\n
The idea to go to MUI maybe a headscratcher, but desperate
\nhours call for desperate measures especially since all other
\nefforts have failed.<\/p>\n
We may not think too much when we purchase pirated products,
\nbut when we buy them, we have infringed on the rights of artists
\nand songwriters, and hampered their ability to create the sounds
\nwe love to hear.<\/p>",
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