Tag: Parliamentary Front to Combat Piracy and Evasion

Re-launched Parliamentary Anti-Piracy Front

In a ceremony held at the Chamber of Deputies, in the Federal District, on June 8, the Mixed Parliamentary Front to Combat Piracy and Tax Evasion was relaunched (photo).

Integrated by Federal Deputies and Senators, with the support of Civil Society entities, including ETCO, the Front brings together those interested in policies and actions to combat the practice of piracy and tax evasion in Brazil, without distinctions of a party, ideological character or geographic, and without a fixed number of members.

At the event, Senator Vanessa Grazziotin, highlighted the importance of the Front: “I count cultural change as the main gain regarding the practice of piracy. Before, piracy was considered normal by society. After the CPI and the work of the Parliamentary Front, it started to be seen as a crime. The Front has contributed a lot to the systematic fight that exists today not only for the industries that feel harmed, but also for the Government bodies like the Federal Police and the Federal Revenue ”, he affirms.

As for the current proponent of the FPCP, Deputy Guilherme Campos, the expectation of creation only intends to maximize efforts: “We hope that this Front can continue our work of voting on projects that combat piracy. Today the punishment for people involved in smuggling, piracy and embezzlement is very lenient. Last year, for example, I was the rapporteur of PL 3618/08 which provides for the suspension and revocation of the CNPJ of establishments that work with products without origin or forged. The PL was approved by the Commission for Economic Development, Industry and Trade. This market moves millions of reais and not only increases tax evasion but causes more violence. That is why we need stricter laws and their application ”, he concludes.

Main Objectives of the Mixed Parliamentary Front to Combat Piracy and Tax Evasion:

  • Take action to promote actions that contribute to combating the practice of piracy and tax evasion in industry, commerce and the Brazilian environment;
  • Constitute a wide debate forum on the theme;
  • To study and elaborate proposals that will contribute to the fight against piracy and tax evasion of industry and commerce in all segments of Brazil, as well as the Brazilian environment,
  • Monitor the actions, measures and policies of the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary Branch related to the fight against piracy and tax evasion,
  • Inform the various organs of the Executive Branch and class entities from the sectors of industry, commerce and the environment regarding the studies and recommendations that may be suggested by the Mixed Parliamentary Front to Combat Piracy and Tax Evasion.

Chamber and Senate united against piracy

Source: Agência Senado, 09/06/2011

This Wednesday (8), the National Congress relaunched the Mixed Parliamentary Front to Combat Piracy and Tax Evasion. Among the various actions envisaged, federal deputies and senators-members of the Front will draft laws that contribute to the fight against piracy and tax evasion by industry and commerce in all segments of the country, as well as the Brazilian environment.

They also promise to monitor the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary's actions, measures and policies related to piracy and tax evasion.

China is the largest supplier of products that arrive in Brazil, especially through Paraguay, and enter the “underground market”, an economy that adds up to more than R $ 600 billion, equivalent to the total of all the wealth produced in Argentina, according to data Instituto Etco and Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV).

While Chinese pirate products invade Brazil, the Federal Government opens the country's doors to the great “Asian tiger” with tax incentives to import its products.

Free Zone

This market opening to China affects the Manaus Free Trade Zone in both directions: it suffers from unfair competition due to piracy and the reduction of competitive advantages. Stopping or trying to minimize these impacts should be one of the tasks that Senator Vanessa Grazziotin (PCdoB), elected vice-president of the group, must face in the Parliamentary Front to Combat Piracy and Tax Evasion.

“The problem is serious. In Parliament we contribute a lot to fight this type of crime with the CPI of Piracy. From now on, both in the Chamber and in the Senate, we will work to improve the legislation and at the same time take this debate to the whole country, discussing the problem in the Legislative Assembly ”, said the senator.

Phonographic sector

Data from the Brazilian Association of Record Producers (ABPD) reveal that the national phonographic sector has suffered a lot in the last ten years from piracy, both traditional music CDs and DVDs, as well as that practiced through the Internet.

The turnover of the main companies in the sector (wholesale and retail) fell from R $ 1,1 billion in 1997 to approximately R $ 360 million in 2009.

According to research by the Ipsos Institute, in 2010, piracy in the audiovisual sector caused losses in the Brazilian GDP of approximately R $ 3,5 billion a year, which generates a reduction in tax collection of approximately R $ 976 million and the non-generation of 96 thousand jobs.

54% It was the fall in the software sector due to piracy. In 2010, 730 actions took place in the main shopping centers in the country, with 1,6 million illegal media seized. This year, 181 operations have already been carried out.