Source: Correo Popular - SP, 11/10/2007

From Sao Paulo

The consumption of pirated products grew between 2006 and 2007, although the share of the population that buys such items remains at the same level. According to a survey by the Trade Federation of Rio de Janeiro (Fecomércio-RJ), in partnership with the Ipsos Institute, 42% of Brazilians assumed that they bought pirated products this year, the same percentage as in 2006.

For the entity, this means that consumers of this type of merchandise have added to the shopping list. Among the ranking of products most sought after by these consumers, the CD is still in the first place, with 86% of citations, the same result as last year. Then, as in 2006, comes the DVD. However, in the annual comparison there was a jump in demand for this item from 35% to 53%. Consumption of all other products has also increased.

Almost all consumers of pirated products (97%) justified the purchase at the lowest price, against 93% last year. It rose from 4% to 6%, the percentage of people who claimed to buy the illegal one because it is available before the original.

Among the 58% of respondents who said they did not buy pirated products, the main reasons alleged were: poor quality (48%), lack of guarantee (16%) and for damaging formal trade (10%). The survey also reveals that, despite high consumption, Brazilians recognize the harms of piracy. Among the respondents, 84% said that buying counterfeit products harms the manufacturer or artist; 81% that fuels tax evasion; 80% that harms trade; 72%, which feeds organized crime; 67% that causes negative consequences for the consumer and 65% that causes unemployment.

Emblematic case

The assessment that the damage caused by the piracy of cinematographic productions was increasing rapidly, with an estimated 1 million illegal copies sold, led distributors to anticipate the premiere of the film Tropa de Elite, a national fiction film that became a case. emblematic of the scope of piracy in Brazil. “The feeling of impunity pervades all classes and age groups, as there is no action to repress consumers,” says the president of Fecomércio-RJ, Orlando Diniz.

In sight

For Diniz, it is not enough that the public authorities attack the sellers of counterfeit items, it is also necessary to punish the buyers of the goods. “Buying piracy is a crime against intellectual property, with a penalty of up to 1 year in prison or payment of a fine. It is very mild ”. (From Folhapress)