Author: Antônio Gois

According to Fecomércio / RJ, the same conduct has been followed by those who attended at least one year of higher education in relation to the illiterate

THE RIO BRANCH

In Brazil, the choice for pirated products is not restricted to the population with less purchasing power. On the contrary. Research presented yesterday by the Trade Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro shows that it was the Brazilians with the highest income and education who most declared purchasing CDs, DVDs, glasses and other items in the informal market.

Across the country, 42% admitted this year to have purchased pirated products, the same percentage as in 2006. Among Brazilians with a family income above R $ 1.800, the percentage reaches 56%. Among those with an income below R $ 300, the proportion is exactly half that of the richest: 28%.

Similar behavior is seen when comparing the consumption of pirates by schooling. Among illiterates or those who only reached the fourth year of elementary school, the percentage is 25%. In the case of those who attended at least one year of higher education, the proportion reaches 54%.

The survey was commissioned by Fecomércio to Instituto Ipsos, which interviewed XNUMX people in all regions of Brazil. “Piracy is no longer a financial or educational problem and has become a socio-cultural phenomenon that cuts across all income brackets. Brazilians, regardless of education or income, increasingly accept this practice, despite being aware of the damage it brings ”, says Orlando Diniz, president of the entity.

For him, a factor that contributed to the increase in the consumption of pirated articles among the wealthiest was the greater agility of supply in the informal market.
So much so that it was in the highest salary range of the survey (family income above R $ 1.800) in which the highest percentage (11%) of consumers who said they had purchased pirated products was found because they were available before the original.

It happened with the movie “Tropa de Elite”, which only premiered in Rio and São Paulo last week, but which, since August, was already in the hands of street vendors. In all social and income classes, however, the main reason given by those who bought pirated products was the lower price.

The delegate of the Police Station for the Repression of Intangible Property Crimes in Rio, ngelo Ribeiro de Almeida Júnior, says that he had already realized that it is the middle class that most uses some pirated products. “The main buyers of DVDs and games are middle class. Many parents feel that it is not worth paying R $ 180 or R $ 200 in games for children because, in a short time, they will get sick. ”
Diniz also says that the survey found that the feeling of impunity is the same across all income and education levels. So much so that the fear of buying an illegal product and being punished is less than 6% in all classes surveyed.
For him, it is necessary to intensify inspection actions and awareness campaigns.

Paulo Rosa, president of the Brazilian Association of Record Producers, agrees with Diniz: “There is little commitment by state and municipal governments to fight piracy, allowing for the existence of real pirate malls. Without a forceful action by the State against the large centers for selling pirated products - such as Rua 25 de Março (SP) and Rua Uruguaiana (RJ) - the feeling that remains for the consumer is permissiveness and impunity.

MÁRCIA BRASIL, from the Rio Branch