Malaysia, well known for its video pirates, is winning the battle to drive sellers of pirated video discs off the streets. Problem is that once these pirates are off the street they simply resurface in the nearby shopping malls.
Malaysia is a hot market for pirated videos, with VCDs and DVDs of hit Hollywood films selling on the streets for up to $3 a piece, almost as soon as they open at the cinema. Pornographic videos are also big business, fetching up to $5. |
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told a news conference Wednesday the number of street hawkers had fallen to 380 from 2,800 since a crackdown began last year, but a second sweep was needed to drive them out of the malls.
The number of hawkers working in the air conditioned comfort of shopping malls had mushroomed to more than 2,000 since his officers got tough with street sellers, he said.
"Some believe just because we prevent them from selling illegal stuff in the open, they (can) sell from indoors," Muhyiddin told reporters.
A U.S. pressure group known as the International Intellectual Property Alliance estimates that trade losses due to piracy in Malaysia cost U.S. firms $316.5 million last year compared with $140 million in 2000. Read the full article here.
Source: Reuters.com
