GristyMcFisty reports that at this
week's APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) leaders summit, experts are
saying that governments and businesses need to rethink their
strategies when it comes to the Internet and technological advances.
Although the enormous popularity of the Internet has
helped facilitate the exploitation of property rights, it has also provided
a convenient avenue for piracy:
 "(The) biggest challenge is how to tackle the new piracy
possiblities brought about by the advent of the Internet," said Hong
Kong's Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology John
Tsang.
While acknowledging some progress has been
made, he said there was still a need for authorities to press on in the
fight against piracy and that this could be in the form of a new framework
with private sector participation.
"What we need is a modernised framework for
assistance and cooperation and the private sector is in the best position
to facilitate the establishment of such a framework," Tsang said.
The Hong Kong official said public education
would be a vital long-term tool in the fight against the exploitation of
intellectual property.
"Incessant demand from the public will
sustain illicit trade," he said. "The long-term solution therefore rest
with education in changing our peoples' attitudes and raising the respect
for intellectual property rights."
Tsang said protecting intellectual rights is
critical for the long-term economic development of any country, making it
imperative that governments not ignore the issue even if they felt it was
not currently a problem. |
The article adds that according to an international study, an
estimated 600,000 films are downloaded a day off the Internet in the United
States and 11 percent of all DVDs in circulation in France have been illegally
downloaded.
Source: Yahoo! News
