Police urged to take action against piracy

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)