NCJ Number
59491
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Issue: 327 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 105-108
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
TYPES OF UNAUTHORIZED SOUND RECORDINGS AND WAYS OF COMBATTING THIS PIRACY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND LOCAL LAWS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE ILLEGAL DUPLICATION AND SALE OF SOUND RECORDINGS HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A WORLDWIDE MARKET ESTIMATED AT $500 MILLION. PIRACY CAN OCCUR IN TWO FORMS: (1) RECORDING LIVE PERFORMANCES, USUALLY POP MUSIC OR OPERA; AND MARKETING THESE UNAUTHORIZED VERSIONS AND (2) COPYING LEGITIMATE RECORDINGS. BECAUSE OF IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN ILLICIT COPYING OF PRERECORDED CASSETTE TAPES. AMATEUR PIRATED PRODUCTS ARE EASY TO IDENTIFY, BUT MOST SWINDLERS OPERATING ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET PROMOTE A PRODUCT THAT APPEARS TO BE LEGITIMATE AND CAN ONLY BE DETECTED BY CAREFUL COMPARISON WITH THE ORIGINAL. RECORDING PIRACY IS A DRAIN ON EVERY COUNTRY'S ECONOMY BECAUSE THE DEALERS PAY NO TAXES; PROVIDE NO JOBS; ARE UNFAIR COMPETITION FOR LEGITIMATE PARTIES WHO MUST GAMBLE ON A RECORDING SUCCESS; AND DENY ROYALTIES TO AUTHORS, COMPOSERS, AND PERFORMERS. THE RIGHTS OF PRODUCERS OF RECORDINGS ARE PROTECTED BY LAWS IN MANY COUNTRIES, AND ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DEVELOP AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON THIS ISSUE. THE LATEST CONVENTION WAS DRAFTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PHONOGRAMS AND VIDEOGRAMS (IFPI) AND BY MID-1978, IT HAD BEEN SIGNED BY 34 STATES. BECAUSE OF IMPROVED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND NATIONAL LAWS, DISTRIBUTION OF PIRATED PRODUCTS HAS DECREASED IN MANY COUNTRIES. PIRACY, HOWEVER, IS STILL AT A HIGH LEVEL, AND IT IS HOPED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION (INTERPOL) WILL ASSIST THE IFPI. (MJM)