Music piracy gets more notorious and gets going

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.