Pirates beware! Uncle Sam’s eyes are on you
Us To send Experts ‘ Team To Brazil Russia , India& China To Check
Intellectual Property Theft
Pirates of Palika Bazaar, fake artists of Flora Fountai9n and counterfeiters at sundry chor bazaars across the country better watch out .Uncle Sam is co9ming to get you.
The US
department of commerce on Wednesday announced it is sending teams of experts into countries known for pirates and counterfeiting in an effort to combat
Intellectual properly theft. A worldwide rip-off that US industries claim is costing it $250 billion and 750,000 jobs each year
The countries under the American scanner includes the so-called BRIC nations—Brazil ,Russia .India and China—which are otherwise considered emerging economic power houses .But US officials sat they are also the countries where American goods are knocked off most regularly in an organized manner.
A recent study by the Business Software Alliance found that 90% of software used in China was pirated Russia followed at 87% ,India at 74% and Brazil at 64%.
According to figures from the World Customs Organization and Interpol. the total global trade in counterfeit goods increased in 2004.to more than $600 billion ,or nearly 7% of all goods sold globally. The Motion Pictures Association of America says its member companies lose close to $1 billion in potential revenue annually in the Asia-Pacific region alone. As much as90% of movies sold in China are illegal copies available for as little as a dollar a DVD, according to some industry estimates.
The protection of Intellectual property is vital to our economic growth and global competitiveness .It has major consequences in our ongoing effort to promote security and stability around the world. Commerce secretary Carlos Gutierrez said while announcing the worldwide crackdown during a visit to Silicon Valley .Theft of Intellectual properly… will not be tolerated.
That means no more bootleg versions of Hollywood blockbusters and music CDs ,no more unlicenced copies of software programmes. And no more knock offs of Polo Ralph Lauren pullovers or Gucci handbags , all of which are readily available in familiar spots such as Delhi’s Palika Bazaar and Beijing’s Silk Alley, which till recently operated openly next door to the US embassy.
Under the US department of commerce programme American experts will b sent to countries such as China and India on a five year tour of duty. They will monitor local IPR violations and coordinate action with local officials .The first such expert has already been sent to Beijing and others will be posted soon.
Under another programme, the US will train foreign judges, enforcement officials and other stake holders in International intellectual property obligations and best practices at a new institution called the Global Intellectual Property Rights Academy
The academy overseen by the department of commerce’s US Patent and Trademark Office plans to convene in 24 sessions in 2006.The department will also start an educational programme offering two day seminars for American small business on how to protect their IP rights.
India’s booming movie and music industry too is affected by intellectual property theft .Bollywood blockbusters are pirated on to DVDs in the US well before they go into official production and most Bollywood film music sound tracks are available for downloading on the internet before they are released.
.