Source: O Globo - Rio de Janeiro / RJ - 01/12/2010

Piracy consumption has increased in Brazil, according to a survey by the Trade Federation of the State of Rio (Fecomércio-RJ) released yesterday. The organization pointed out that 48% of people over 16 years old bought at least one counterfeit item in 2010, against 42% in the first year of the survey, in 2006. This means that 70,2 million consumers bought pirates this year, 13,8, 56,4 million more than the XNUMX million four years ago.

The survey of 70 people conducted in 79 cities in the country indicates that CDs are still the most consumed pirate product: 77% of people who bought pirates purchased CDs this year. Then there are DVDs, with 2006%, showing the greatest growth in relation to 35, when it was acquired by 7% of people. Next, glasses (with 7%) appear; footwear, bags or sneakers (6%); clothes (5%); watches (4%) and cigarettes and pens (XNUMX%).

The survey indicates that 52% of men bought pirated products in 2010, against 45% of women. Consumption is more frequent among young people aged 16 to 24: 65% of them buy pirates, against only 19% of people over 60. 47% of class A / B people bought pirates this year, against 53% of class C and 39% of classes D / E.

- Piracy is a true spreading epidemic. With the increase in the consumption power of class C, the tendency is that the problem worsens, if there is not a great work of awareness - said the president of Fecomércio-RJ, Orlando Diniz. In his opinion, with the social and economic improvement, more people started to buy products, both legal and counterfeit.

According to João Gomes, an economist at Fecomércio-RJ, the perception of the negative aspects behind piracy is decreasing in the country. In 2010, only 56% of the population indicated that it causes unemployment, against 64% in 2006. The link between piracy and organized crime was pointed out by 70% of people four years ago and dropped to 60%.

The executive secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Raphael Tomaz Favetto said that society needs to be aware that piracy is not a socially acceptable activity:

- The view that the seller of pirated products is a “poor guy”, who has a pregnant woman and needs this to live is a lie. Piracy is linked to organized crime. Some with transnational ramifications and with slave labor.

Diniz announced a new campaign against piracy in Rio with the motto "Whoever buys piracy pays with his life". It will start airing this week at metro stations.