http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=020726
Piracy: Goa music industry loses Rs 100 cr NT Staff Reporter Panaji Feb 6: Business in Goa, like in other parts of the country, is no music to the ears of various companies manufacturing recorded music cassettes and compact discs, thanks to the rampant piracy in the field which forces an annual loss of Rs 100 crore on the local music industry. The music industry loses Rs 100 crore every year in Goa; Rs 50 crore by way of physical piracy including software and another Rs 50 crore amounting to royalty that should have been paid to the copyright holders of the original sound recordings. Incidentally, there was not a single raid connected to the music piracy conducted in the state during last year. During the years between 2001 and 2004, Goa police registered only 4 cases of counterfeit recordings. The Indian Music Industry (IMI), with an aim to improve upon the discordant notes in the local music market, will be launching its anti-piracy campaign in support of original and quality music in the state on Valentine's Day, February 14. A workshop for state police organised by the IMI and scheduled on February 7 will further recommend setting up of an audio-video anti-piracy cell as well as a roaming squad to counter the music piracy, on the lines of states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, besides discussing various other related legal aspects. The IMI will also appeal to the state government to reduce the Value Added Tax on the music software from the existing 12.5 per cent to 4 per cent as implemented in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra. This disparity in VAT on music items has unscrupulous elements buying chunk of the music stuff in Maharashtra and selling it in black market, in Goa, at rates slightly less than those charged by the authorised music stores. The head of the national Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), 'Supercop' Mr Julio Ribeiro who will conduct the workshop for local police officials, told reporters, today that any performance of Indian and international music from sound recordings, in public places or commercial establishments, without prior license constitutes an infringement of Copyright Act of 1957. "There are so many events taking place in Goa, round the year, accompanied by playing of sound recordings originally belonging to reputed music companies," he said, adding "however no prior permission for the same is sought or royalty is paid to the copyright holder." Unfortunately, the police in the state and rest of the country have their priorities for handling crimes; music piracy being placed at the rock bottom of the priority list, Mr Ribeiro observed. The general secretary of IMI, Mr Savio D'Souza, told reporters that Goan artists and music companies need to contribute to the fight against music anti-piracy. "Goa, like each of the Indian states, has its unique music and this music as well as the future of the new upcoming Goan singers is in great danger with the music pirates slowly encroaching Goa," he maintained. Citing the examples of neighbourhood countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which have no music industry, Mr D'Souza said that India would also follow their example if the menace of music pirates is not curbed in time. Presently, Pakistan has eight plants churning out the compact discs, but the music written on them is 100 per cent pirated, and unfortunately Indian, he informed. Stating that India annually loses roughly about Rs 400 to Rs 500 crore by way of music piracy, Mr D'Souza said that last year IMI had pumped in Rs 4 crore, in support of its crusade against the music pirates. An IPR team was also formed by IMI in 1996, headed by Mr Ribeiro and constituting retired police and intelligence as well as army officers to counter the menace. Replying to a question, Mr D'Souza said that increasing number of FM channels are no threat to the music industry as they complement good music and further popularise it. Meanwhile, Mr Amar Duragkar representing Saregama India Ltd, the erstwhile HMV Company, said that in Goa, the pirates are eating into 30 to 40 per cent of the sales of video CDs of his company. "The losses faced by Saregama in audio sector, in Goa is much much more," he informed. The pirates are really destroying sales prospects of our new labels which are receiving good response in market, he said, pointing out, "for example, the pirated music CDs of films such as Bluffmaster, Kalyug and Holiday are presently selling like hot cakes." Mr Ribeiro said, "Music is a part of Indian culture and music pirates would make us lose it; forcing the music companies to shut down as they would no longer be able to identify, nurture and market new artists and produce quality music." -- Salaam ali kum. Gabe Menezes. London, England
