DVD Pirating Rife - Damaging Film Industry

Massive Increase in Asian Counterfeiting

According to reports stemming from Asia, the DVD market looks like being in for a slogging from pirate versions being produced in various countries in Asia.

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) says the counterfeiting of films on DVD has reached new heights in Asia, and is becoming a veritable menace for the US cinema industry.

According to Michael Ellis, Vice-President of the MPA – regional director for anti pirating operations in the Asia-Pacific region, around 4.8 million DVD’s of films produced by members of the MPA were seized in 2001 in Asia, including 500,000 in Hong Kong. Mr Ellis says he believes the goods seized this year in the region will probably amount to a similar figure.

There are reportedly more than 80 clandestine DVD duplication sites in Asia, mainly in Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.

According to Ellis, Taiwan is the main offender, as copies produced in China tend to remain in that country rather than being exported, as is the case in Taiwan and some of the other Asian counties. The main destinations: Europe, the Middle-East, Africa and North America. New markets are also being tapped such as Australia, Latin America and South Africa.

The Association estimates that Asian contraband has made a hole of just under 600-million dollars in its members’ coffers, with the world total at more than $3-billion. Mr Ellis has announced a reward of $150,000 for information leading to the arrest of pirate DVD manufacturers.