The value of seizures of counterfeit, smuggled and pirated products in Brazil has tripled in the past six years. The amount that, in 2004, was R $ 452 million jumped to R $ 1,27 billion in 2010. The Federal Revenue figures are part of the Original Brazil Report, which gathers the main results of the policy to combat piracy in the country. Prepared by the National Council for Combating Piracy (CNCP), of the Ministry of Justice (MJ), the document was released this Friday (2/12).

In a press conference, the executive secretary of the ministry, Luiz Paulo Barreto, estimates that in 2011 the seizures will increase by 30%. “Brazil has been playing its role in combating piracy well and has stopped participating in black lists. We should reach December, with R $ 1,7 billion in seized goods. It is a record of apprehensions, but the challenge is still great ”, he pondered.

Composed of 20 public and private entities, the CNCP is responsible for coordinating the actions of the National Plan to Combat Piracy. It operates in three areas: educational, economic and repressive.

In this last aspect, the CNCP has observed an increase in seizures in recent years. Between 2010 and 2011, the quantity of cigarettes seized by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) rose from 3,42 million packages to 4,52 million; of fuels, from 98 thousand liters to 200 thousand liters; computer equipment, from 98 thousand units to 195 thousand units; and drinks, from 106 thousand liters to 136 thousand. The figures for 2011 go through November.

PRF data still shows that cigarettes and CDs / DVDs lead the list of most seized goods this year - with 4,52 million packages and 3,77 million units.

The explanation for this increase, according to the executive secretary of the CNCP, Ana Lúcia Medina, lies in the increase of repressive actions in the most sensitive areas, such as borders, ports and airports.

In 2009 and 2010, the Federal Police launched 381 operations to investigate crimes of smuggling, embezzlement and piracy. These actions resulted in 1.273 inquiries for piracy and 16.391 for smuggling and embezzlement in 2010. During this period, 956 arrests were made. For Luiz Paulo, the numbers are the result of a scenario that has changed. "In 2004, when the Council was created, there was a consensus that no one was arrested for piracy," he recalls.

Even in second place in the list of seized products, CDs and DVDs registered a decrease in seizures in the comparison between 2010 and 2011 - there were 5,79 million units last year and 3,77 million units from January to November this year. In the same period compared, electronics decreased from 393 thousand units to 285 thousand.

Ana Lúcia Medina explains that the reduction in seizures CDs / DVDs may be related to the fact that people use the internet more to download files. Regarding electronics, she believes that the drop may be related to the fact that Brazilians are traveling abroad and buying more.

About 20% of the seizures of pirated products also bring weapons, drugs or ammunition. “Piracy is not restricted to CDs and DVDs, it is linked to organized crime”, explains Luiz Paulo Barreto. In addition, piracy exposes the consumer to the risk of consumption. "Those who consume a pirated product may be subject to accidents, to ingesting placebo, in the case of medications", warns Barreto.

Prevention and economic actions

In addition to the increase in apprehensions, the National Plan to Combat Piracy carried out a series of strategic actions. One of the priorities is the Cidade Livre de
Piracy, which encourages city halls to create mechanisms for the prevention and repression of this crime. Brasília, Curitiba, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte have already joined. Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Osasco should join in 2012. The initial goal is that all host cities for the 2014 World Cup participate. It is a requirement of FIFA that there is no trade in these products where there will be games.

With the help of the political articulation of the CNCP, the cities that participate in the project start to work in an integrated manner with the federal and state government, with the participation of organized civil society. One of the consequences of this is the increase in tax collection, formal jobs in which workers can claim their rights and the appreciation of local industry and commerce.

On the economic side, Feira Legal was designed. The aim is to encourage the sale of original products and thus offer an alternative income to those who sell pirated products. To participate, the municipality needs to associate, for example, with street vendor associations, local industries and the government to find local alternatives for marketing products. For the president of the CNCP, Paulo Abrão, it is necessary to provide employment alternatives to these people. “Otherwise, they will not feel encouraged to move out of illegality. This is possible, it is enough to have political will and the participation of the private initiative ”, he points out.

Another action foreseen at the national level is the training of public agents for repression. Until August 2011, 1,4 military police officers from the DF and 200 public officials from São Paulo were trained. In 2010, there were 940 agents (280 from Curitiba, 410 in DF and 250 from Maranhão).

Legislation

In order to improve the norms related to the subject, on January 5, 2011, the CNCP sent bill 8.052 to the National Congress. The text proposes answers to most of the difficulties presented by the authorities in conducting investigative and procedural crimes against piracy. If approved, the project will streamline the analysis of goods seized by sampling and then destruction. “Many judicial deposits are full of pirated goods awaiting final judgment”, explains Ana Lúcia.

Other actions

Campaign
In order to sensitize the population not to consume pirated products, in December 2010, the Brasil Original campaign was launched. More than 600 movie theaters across the country started showing, before the start of
sessions, educational films. The Ministry of Justice's initiative was the result of a partnership with the National Film Agency (Ancine).

Cooperation
At the international level, CNCP has also started discussions to create a Mercosur Council on the subject. The proposal was presented on September 1, 2011, during bilateral dialogue
on Intellectual Property, held in Argentina. The next steps will be contact with the other members of Mercosur, Paraguay and Uruguay.