Author: Daniela Matthes

Source: Jornal de Santa Catarina - SC - 20/11/2009

BLUMENAU - The fight against piracy will be reinforced in the city. A supplementary bill authored by councilman Napoleão Bernardes (PSDB) was approved yesterday in the City Council. The law intends to intensify the siege on merchants who sell pirated products, revoking the business license. Napoleon explains that there is federal legislation to combat piracy, but that it should be more restrictive. Currently, merchants caught selling counterfeit items are fined and closed, depending on the case. The problem is that, after paying the fine, the trader can open another company in the same industry.

If municipal law comes into effect, the business owner will be out of business for a period of five years. According to Bernardes, a survey by the Ministry of Justice indicates that for every informal job in the counterfeiting industry, six formal jobs are lost.

- We have a lot of intellectual production in Blumenau, such as software and fashion. It is necessary to act against this illegality - affirms the councilman.

The Municipal Council for Combating Piracy in Blumenau, a pioneer in the country, celebrated the approval. The agency's executive secretary, Edson Kestering, says there is a need for more punitive action. One of the council's actions is to work to raise public awareness.

- When it comes to piracy, we only think about CD and DVD. But there are medicines, toys, fashion, software and even surgical products. People need to be aware of how bad this is for them - he defends.

The president of the Chamber of Shopkeepers of Blumenau (CDL), Marcelino Campos, says that merchants who pay taxes regularly will benefit from the measure approved by the councilors. He criticizes bazaars organized by charities that sell irregular products seized by the government:

- It is necessary to be more rigorous in the apprehension of pirated materials. When the IRS offers these products for nonprofits to sell, it is very damaging to the trade. Especially in small towns.

To enter into force, the law must be signed by the mayor João Paulo Kleinübing and published in the Official Gazette of the Municipality.