Cassette piracy rife in Surakarta

Cassette piracy rife in Surakarta

SURAKARTA, Central Java: Piracy of audio cassettes in this ancient city has caused the state to lose an estimated Rp 10 million every year in unpaid taxes, a local official said yesterday.

Spokesman for the state-owned recording company PT Lokananta Imam Muhadi said most audio cassettes traded in the city have been recorded and resold illegally.

He said that over 11,000 cassettes and three duplicating machines were seized recently in a operation launched by the local police in cooperation with the Association Indonesian Recording Companies.

Pirated cassettes sell well because townspeople like buying cheaper tapes, he said. (har/rms)