ID :
149697
Fri, 11/12/2010 - 17:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/149697
The shortlink copeid
MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT COPYRIGHT IN M'SIA
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (BERNAMA) -- Though Malaysia has stepped up efforts to
eradicate copyright infringement and pirated products, it is yet to achieve the
desired results.
In the 301 Special Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of United States
Trade Partners in protecting intellectual property in 2010, the United States
Trade Representative (USTR) office praised Malaysia's efforts to improve
legislation and enforcement especially in regards to software piracy.
Nonetheless, it is still not enough to take Malaysia out of the ‘lower level
watch list’ where Malaysia sits with another 28 nations. Regardless, it is still
an achievement compared with the ‘priority watch list’ which Malaysia was in up
to 2004.
Copyright is the legal right granted to an author, composer, playwright,
publisher or distributor to exclusive publication, production, sale, or
distribution of a literary, musical, dramatic or artistic work.
Piracy is the unauthorised use or reproduction of copyrighted or patented
material.
Mohd Roslan Mahayudin, the Enforcement Division Director General for the
Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism noted that this still
does not augur well for the nation's image.
"We also want to encourage more FDI into the country. If the investors see
their products and services are not protected, they may not want to invest.
"Malaysia will be seen as a nation that does not respect intellectual
property rights. This is not good for our trade. We have to ensure the copyright
infringement rate remains low", he told Bernama.
CAMPAIGN TO ERADICATE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
The latest campaign to eradicate copyright infringement launched in May,
targets at business premises selling pirated or counterfeit items especially at
hotspots identified all over the nation - the Golden Triangle and Jalan
Petaling, both in Kuala Lumpur and Holiday Plaza in Johor Baharu.
"In this respect we are targeting warehouses or storage facilities, apart
from small businesses," said Roslan.
From Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2010, Mohd Roslan pointed out 73,956 premises were
inspected with goods worth RM25,659,335 confisicated.
"They represent violations under Price Control Act 1946 (73 cases), Trade
Description Act 1972 (516 cases), Copyright Act 1987 (712 cases) and Optic Disc
Act (One case)," he said.
Roslan advised consumers to lodge a complaint with the ministry's
enforcement division if they feel suspicious over the authenticity over the
products that they have purchased.
"As for example we often receive complaints on handphones purchased at sales
carnivals. We have narrowed down the problem to mobile sales carnivals and are
keeping an eye over them. We have send directives to our counterparts in the
states to keep an eye on them. We suspect there are syndicates behind them. They
buy a container load of goods from overseas, and participate in any carnival",
he explained.
Roslan also advised entrepreneurs to register their products with MyIPO so
that the ministry can protect them.
AWARENESS PROGRAMME
In ensuring greater awareness on the menace and how it can impede the
government's efforts in creating a creative and innovative society, the ministry
also holds briefings, seminars and workshops to create awareness in the society
on why it is important to buy the original products. The awareness campaigns are
divided into five zones - north, central, east and south - in Peninsula, and in
Sabah and Sarawak.
Roadshows on piracy were held at 20 primary schools to expose students on
the consequences from copyright infringement.
The ministry is also conducting a study with the cooperation of University
Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM) on the effectiveness of its campaigns.
The outcome of the study will be used to plan out effective campaigns in
eradicating copyright infringement menace and pirated products.
ORIGINAL SALES CARNIVAL
In line with the latest campaign to eradicate copyright infringement, the ministry is organising an Original Sales Carnival that starts on Friday (Nov 12) and ends on Sunday (Nov 14) at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre here.
"Apart from shopping, visitors can also learn the ways to identify the original and the pirated products. Through this the consumers will be more aware on why it is important to protect intellectual property", said Roslan.
This carnival is meant to promote and sell original items under various brand names at competitive prices.
Among the product categories promoted and sold at the carnival is computers, music and film, electrical goods, games and computer software, handphones, sports items, apparel, books and stationery, beauty products, perfumes, food, drinks and health products.
eradicate copyright infringement and pirated products, it is yet to achieve the
desired results.
In the 301 Special Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of United States
Trade Partners in protecting intellectual property in 2010, the United States
Trade Representative (USTR) office praised Malaysia's efforts to improve
legislation and enforcement especially in regards to software piracy.
Nonetheless, it is still not enough to take Malaysia out of the ‘lower level
watch list’ where Malaysia sits with another 28 nations. Regardless, it is still
an achievement compared with the ‘priority watch list’ which Malaysia was in up
to 2004.
Copyright is the legal right granted to an author, composer, playwright,
publisher or distributor to exclusive publication, production, sale, or
distribution of a literary, musical, dramatic or artistic work.
Piracy is the unauthorised use or reproduction of copyrighted or patented
material.
Mohd Roslan Mahayudin, the Enforcement Division Director General for the
Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism noted that this still
does not augur well for the nation's image.
"We also want to encourage more FDI into the country. If the investors see
their products and services are not protected, they may not want to invest.
"Malaysia will be seen as a nation that does not respect intellectual
property rights. This is not good for our trade. We have to ensure the copyright
infringement rate remains low", he told Bernama.
CAMPAIGN TO ERADICATE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
The latest campaign to eradicate copyright infringement launched in May,
targets at business premises selling pirated or counterfeit items especially at
hotspots identified all over the nation - the Golden Triangle and Jalan
Petaling, both in Kuala Lumpur and Holiday Plaza in Johor Baharu.
"In this respect we are targeting warehouses or storage facilities, apart
from small businesses," said Roslan.
From Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2010, Mohd Roslan pointed out 73,956 premises were
inspected with goods worth RM25,659,335 confisicated.
"They represent violations under Price Control Act 1946 (73 cases), Trade
Description Act 1972 (516 cases), Copyright Act 1987 (712 cases) and Optic Disc
Act (One case)," he said.
Roslan advised consumers to lodge a complaint with the ministry's
enforcement division if they feel suspicious over the authenticity over the
products that they have purchased.
"As for example we often receive complaints on handphones purchased at sales
carnivals. We have narrowed down the problem to mobile sales carnivals and are
keeping an eye over them. We have send directives to our counterparts in the
states to keep an eye on them. We suspect there are syndicates behind them. They
buy a container load of goods from overseas, and participate in any carnival",
he explained.
Roslan also advised entrepreneurs to register their products with MyIPO so
that the ministry can protect them.
AWARENESS PROGRAMME
In ensuring greater awareness on the menace and how it can impede the
government's efforts in creating a creative and innovative society, the ministry
also holds briefings, seminars and workshops to create awareness in the society
on why it is important to buy the original products. The awareness campaigns are
divided into five zones - north, central, east and south - in Peninsula, and in
Sabah and Sarawak.
Roadshows on piracy were held at 20 primary schools to expose students on
the consequences from copyright infringement.
The ministry is also conducting a study with the cooperation of University
Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM) on the effectiveness of its campaigns.
The outcome of the study will be used to plan out effective campaigns in
eradicating copyright infringement menace and pirated products.
ORIGINAL SALES CARNIVAL
In line with the latest campaign to eradicate copyright infringement, the ministry is organising an Original Sales Carnival that starts on Friday (Nov 12) and ends on Sunday (Nov 14) at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre here.
"Apart from shopping, visitors can also learn the ways to identify the original and the pirated products. Through this the consumers will be more aware on why it is important to protect intellectual property", said Roslan.
This carnival is meant to promote and sell original items under various brand names at competitive prices.
Among the product categories promoted and sold at the carnival is computers, music and film, electrical goods, games and computer software, handphones, sports items, apparel, books and stationery, beauty products, perfumes, food, drinks and health products.
