Source: INPI - National Institute of Industrial Property - Rio de Janeiro / RJ - NEWS - 24/08/2010

Organized as a global $ 600 billion market, piracy prevents job creation, reduces tax collection and is also linked to a variety of crimes. Faced with such adverse effects, the Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Miguel Jorge, called on society to increasingly expand its alliances with the three spheres of government to combat piracy.

In his presentation at the XXX Intellectual Property Congress, on August 24, in São Paulo, the minister analyzed the existing actions to combat piracy in three aspects: educational, repressive and economic, including the activities of the INPI in this field. The event is promoted by the Brazilian Intellectual Property Association (ABPI).

- As much as the Government and the private sector make efforts, we will only be successful when the consumer is convinced. For this, society has to become increasingly involved with the government in the fight against piracy - said the minister.

On the educational issue, Miguel Jorge stated that it is necessary to combat a cultural issue. A recent survey showed that 42% of people bought pirated products in the past 12 months. For this reason, the National Council for Combating Piracy (CNCP) is developing projects such as "Piracy-free city" and "Fair legal", discussing partnerships with cities such as São Paulo, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília.

At the same time, INPI partners with institutions like Fifa, to protect the brands of the 2014 World Cup and, possibly, with the International Olympic Committee, for the 2016 Games. In partnership with Fiesp, the Autarchy also trains Federal Police and Federal Highway Police agents. In addition, with the restructuring and hiring of personnel, the Institute will create an area to combat IP-related crimes.

- Today, INPI is able to act in the defense of intellectual property - he said.

In the repressive issue, Miguel Jorge showed that the Government's actions against piracy are growing. The seizure of counterfeit drugs rose from 20 to 316 tons between 2008 and 2009. In turn, the operations of the Federal Police intensified and the Internal Revenue Service increased its seizures from R $ 1 billion in 2008 to R $ 1,4 billion in 2009.

On the economic issue, the minister mentioned the government's actions, in partnership with the legislature, to combat underemployment and encourage formalization. He cited the General Law on Micro and Small Enterprises, the system of Individual Microentrepreneurs and the National Network for Simplifying the Registration and Legalization of Companies and Businesses.

According to the minister, such actions generate better and better results, but more needs to be done to combat piracy.