Police urged to take action against piracy

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Recording Industry Association (Asiri) has again urged police to take stern action against piracy of local songs recorded on compact discs (CDs) and video compact discs (VCDs).

The plea was submitted by the association's executives and top singers Ebiet G. Ade, Rinto Harahap and Dewi Yull, at a meeting with National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi at the latter's office on Wednesday.

According to Asiri chairman Imam Supeno, since 1995 there had been a rapid growth in distribution and sales of pirated CDs and VCDs of Indonesian songs across the country, particularly in larger cities such as Jakarta. The piracy had a severe impact on the local recording industry, reducing the sales of authentic and original productions, he said.

"At that time (1995), we could produce 80 million legal copies (CDs and VCDs) of Indonesian songs.

But last year, we only produced 30 million copies. We've suffered huge losses because of the piracy," Imam said. He declined to divulge details of the losses.

He said the association attributed the massive decline with the mushrooming number of pirated CDs and VCDs on offer across the country.

He said Asiri had discovered the pirated copies were produced in Singapore and Malaysia from original CD-ROMs.

The CD-ROMs were illegally supplied by local businessmen here to their partners in the two neighboring countries for mass production, Imam said.

Pirated copies of the material entered the country for sale at heavily discounted prices, he said.

"For example, we recently found several salesmen from Singapore and Malaysia offering pirated Indonesia CDs and VCDs at shops at Mangga Dua Mall (a shopping center in West Jakarta)."

Imam said producers and traders of the illegal items could offer the merchandise at lower prices, because they evaded tax payments and royalties to both the state and local singers.

The local recording industry, already suffering a downturn during the ongoing economic crisis, would be dealt a fatal blow should police and related law enforcers be unable to stop the piracy, he warned.

"As a result, the local industry would be unable to pay the singers and even worse, no local artists would wish to create songs anymore," Imam said.

The government, through an announcement made by the Ministry of Information, pledged to eradicate pirated CDs, VCDs and CD- ROMs from markets across the country beginning February 26.

Traders widely predicted the government's warning was an empty commitment, as no action has been taken by the government so far.

According to Imam, Asiri, in cooperation with the Los Angeles- based Motion Pictures Association and Business Software Alliance, are holding discussions and investigating ways to compel producers to place certain codes on their products.

"In the future, all CDs and VCDs on the market will have certain code numbers, so that we can trace their producers."

In response to Asiri's request, the police once again promised to conduct raids of pirated CDs and VCDs, considered by many as a multi-billion business.

"We would also cooperate with related parties to prevent pirated CDs and VCDs from entering the country," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar Sianipar said.

Jakarta is considered a paradise for illegal VCD and CD traders and producers.

Street traders selling illegal merchandise can be found in increasing numbers in many of the city's popular shopping areas, such as Blok M in South Jakarta and Glodok in West Jakarta.

At prices averaging between Rp 10,000 and Rp 15,000 each, the pirated VCDs attract not only local enthusiasts but also foreign visitors, including those from Europe, the United States and the Middle East. In comparison, original versions cost about Rp 50,000. (jun)