What people think about piracy

JAKARTA (JP): Originality does not always count, at least, not for pirates and those who use pirated items.

The cheap prices of fake items, their wide availability and their "relatively good" quality have lured people to buy them.

Some yield to the temptation, some resist.

How do people feel about piracy?

Armand Maulana, singer: I buy pirated CD videos because they are available anywhere in the markets. It's cheaper and the quality is quite good. Original VCDs cost Rp 60,000 each while the copied ones are just Rp 15,000 each. So, which one do you prefer? I swear to God that I wouldn't buy copied VCDs if they were not available in the markets. But, I'm not that bad because I only bought the three Indiana Jones films on VCD. Being a singer myself, piracy is not good.

Bens Leo, a music critic: Piracy is not about only money but the morality of copycats and buyers which is totally against intellectual property rights laws.

It seems that our authorities are still facing difficulties dragging illegal producers and traders to court even though business associations whose products have been pirated keep investigating the cases in cooperation with the police.

Dr. Myrnawati, public health expert at Islamic Yarsi University's school of medicine: It seems that the trend of piracy has increased significantly with women's products as the favorite items. We can easily find many pirated goods offered at many places throughout the country.

I don't think the government has any idea about such illegal trading practices but I support the government not banning the illegal business because 80 percent of Indonesians cannot afford to buy genuine goods, which are so expensive.

The government could prohibit only the trading of pirated items which are made by Indonesians.

It does not matter to me on whether the goods I buy are genuine or not. What's important to me is that I like the product and I'm ready for any consequences.

Being an educator, I have learned that piracy has certain advantages especially because foreign-language literature is expensive and scarce here.

Haptop Best, a palmist: There's no reason for the government to let the bad piracy situation grow worse. It should be stopped immediately if we want to have more innovative citizens and reduce the number of lazy people, who prefer copying things to inventing new products.

There should be a massive campaign about the effects the nation will suffer if we keep producing, selling and purchasing pirated goods.

In short, the government should begin taking stern action unless we want to see our people simple-minded for their whole lives.

Awang, a freelance agent of pirated items in Glodok, West Jakarta: The growing business of copied goods flooding both streetside and sophisticated shopping areas across the country reflects the people's genuine demand and buying power. The buffs of pirated items are not only from the grassroots. I can tell you that many public figures, like film stars, legislators and models have been my regular customers for quite a long time.

So, if you want to stop it, ask the original producers not to sell their goods so far above a reasonable price. If they can make it, I guarantee people in the developing nations won't buy the copied goods anymore which will lead the illegal business to its grave.

Dewi Motik, a businesswoman and deputy chairwoman of Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry: It's just natural that every creator wants their intellectual work to be appreciated and shun their creations being pirated. Our problem is that there are still many of us, especially our traditional people in villages and even scientists, still ignore copyright laws. There are, of course, positive and negative things about piracy. Having cheap pirated products is good but, believe me, it's an evil work. I don't buy pirated products on purpose. It's only later that I find out the things I have bought are pirated.

Reza Faisal, a university student: As long as the government does nothing against piracy, people from all walks of life, including the well-to-dos, will enjoy using, consuming, purchasing and producing a variety of illegally copied items. I think the government has planned the correct time to act because at the moment, so many people -- particularly students and even professionals -- cannot afford to buy the original goods because of their expensive prices. So, if you have enough money, buy the authentic ones and let other people purchase things based on their buying power. Simple, isn't it? Producers of the original brands should not force low-income people to buy genuine goods.

Emmy Hafild, executive director of Indonesian Forum for Environment: Yes, I buy some pirated goods, like books, in Taiwan and India. But it's not too often because I highly appreciate the writers, especially when they are not rich. The government should exempt science books, for instance, from tax so more people can afford them.

Laksmiari Priyonggo, Indonesian Democratic Party legislator: I never look to see if the products I buy are genuine or fake but, basically, I am against piracy. But sometimes we cannot get away from it. For example, I am very fond of reading and willing to pay a lot for the information I need, especially for banned books which I don't mind copying if it's very hard to find a copy. Copyright owners should be proud if their products are pirated. Doesn't it mean that their works are popular? Remember the author Emha Ainun Najib who once said that letting his books be pirated was a kind of charity?

Usually, it is not the creators who are money-minded people but their managers who are afraid of losing their fortunes because of piracy. (08/aan/bsr/05)