Music piracy gets more notorious and gets going

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A fellow reporter had a bad experience when purchasing a tape in a record outlet. A couple of months ago, he went to a big, well- known store to buy the original soundtrack to the movie I am Sam.

"But when I got home and played the tape, I was shocked. The songs were not in the right order as it began from the middle. I was so furious! I bought it for the same price as the original. The store also refused to give my money back," he said.

Piracy is not a new thing for the record industry in this country. You can find pirated CDs and tapes virtually everywhere. They can even be found in Senayan sports complex, which is just a few hundred meters from the Jakarta Police Headquarters on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta.

But recently, piracy has reached a whole new level, with counterfeit products (aspal) finding their way onto record store shelves amid a rampant increase in availability.

Unlike pirated products of the past which were clearly distinguished -- bad quality cover and all -- the counterfeit items of today ones look identical to the original. They even have tax stickers on them.

However, if you look closer, you can find small flaws, as happened to singer Tere a while ago.

During an autograph session a fan gave Tere a cover of her debut album Awal Yang Indah (A Beautiful Start) for her to sign.

"But the cover looked weird as the picture was unclear. The paper was also different. When I asked the fan, she said she bought it in a record store," said Tere, 23.

Tere then asked her producer to contact police who then raided a retail store in Kuningan, South Jakarta, last month. The raids led to further busts in Disc Tarra record stores and at several factories in Jakarta last month.

The counterfeit products found at Disc Tarra were from local artists. Beside Tere's, there were the soundtracks to local movies Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's Up With Cinta?), Ari Lasso's Sendiri Dulu (Alone For Now) and Dewa's Cintailah Cinta (Loving Love).

Police have arrested several suspects. The case is still under investigation.

Disc Tarra CEO Wirawan Hartono has said the company was only a distributor which bought the products from official agents appointed by the producers.

"We've been working with them for years. Their products are always accompanied with documents certifying the originality."

However, there has been an allegation that Disc Tarra is involved in the production of counterfeit products.

Wirawan denied the allegations, reiterating the company was only a retailer.

While the situation was highlighted last month, the distribution of counterfeit tapes or CDs has been around for much longer.

Sony Music Indonesia managing director Sutanto Hartono said some of the record company's products were pirated last year.

"Agents can return the albums from local artists to us if they are not already sold. Last year, we found some were counterfeit. But when we traced it back to the agent, we couldn't find anything," Sutanto said.

He suspected the producers of counterfeit products were those who have been or are still involved in the music industry.

"The album cover is very difficult to fake. But now technology is getting more sophisticated, with scanning machines and all," he said, adding the business of piracy had become particularly competitive.

These high-quality pirates have increased sales of counterfeit products in this country.

From 1995 to 1996, the rate of piracy was only 12 percent. The local music industry peaked in that period, with nine to 10 million cassettes produced every month.

But ever since the prolonged economic crisis first hit in 1997, the rate has soared higher.

Data from the Anti Piracy Communication Forum (FOKAP) shows that piracy is currently 650 percent larger than the legal sales of three million copies each month.

The number is well up on the 558 percent figure last year.

Piracy causes estimated financial losses of Rp 11 trillion (US$1.196 billion) annually.

Sutanto said piracy had made it difficult for record companies to sell albums from new artists.

"We used to be able to sell up to 30,000 albums from new artists. But now selling 10,000 copies is considered good. I'm afraid things will get as bad as in Malaysia where piracy is awful. The producers there now prefer to release compilation albums or rerelease old artists rather than new artists."

The worsening situation has spurred FOKAP to increase its campaign to combat piracy. Comprising representatives from the music industry, FOKAP was formed last April with the aim to bolster failed efforts already undertaken by several organizations, including Asiri (Indonesian Recording Industry Association).

FOKAP's head Arnell Affandi said the forum had already set a timetable in its battle against piracy.

"We've met legislators, police ... We've even sent a letter to President Megawati (Soekarnoputri) but so far there hasn't been any reply. Soon we'll launch a campaign on TV and radio, and we'll also reach the provinces" Arnell said recently.

The forum's plan to hold a special event called Satu Hari Tanpa Musik (A Day Without Music), scheduled Oct. 28, was called off due to the Bali tragedy.

"Piracy is getting worse and it could spell the end of the music industry in our country. As law enforcement is really weak we really need the President to issue a presidential decree," Arnell said.

National Police Deputy Spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang said the piracy was indeed very disturbing and it has always been in the police agenda to combat it.

"We've seized millions of VCDs and CDs, we've also arrested so many people allegedly involved. Piracy is indeed a loss for the country. We'll continue to work with Asiri and other organizations," he said over a phone interview.

So far, however, police effort has yet to show any result in decreasing piracy. The parties responsible for piracy also remained unclear.

Arnell said that since news covering about piracy sparked lately, the pirate has been really careful.

He added that FOKAP recently met the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to issue a fatwa (religious statement) that pirated products were haram (forbidden) for Muslims.

"We hope that since the majority of Indonesians are Muslims, the people will listen. MUI really welcome our suggestion also," Arnell said.

The idea to go to MUI maybe a headscratcher, but desperate hours call for desperate measures especially since all other efforts have failed.

We may not think too much when we purchase pirated products, but when we buy them, we have infringed on the rights of artists and songwriters, and hampered their ability to create the sounds we love to hear.