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U.S. High Level Anti-Piracy Post Created
Vicissidude wrote to mention a CNN/Money article, announcing that President Bush has created a new senior-level position to fight global intellectual-property piracy From the article: "Bush has tapped Chris Israel, currently deputy chief of staff for Gutierrez, to head up the administration's anti-piracy efforts. China -- where 90 percent of music and movies are pirate copies -- will be a chief priority, Gutierrez said."
The guy tapped to take up the post is a public policy executive at, where else, Time Warner. I will refrain from sarcasm, because it'll just make me look snotty, but this guy is being set up for a conflict of interests. He won't be doing independent analysis of piracy problems; he'll be a high-level executive mouthpiece for the media conglomerates.
I don't know how software works, but with other products in China, they are the real thing, not just copies. Instead of shutting down the factory for clothes and purses, they keep it running and sell the products real cheap. It covers their costs and then some. Where do big software vendors have their software made and packaged?
China -- where 90 percent of music and movies are pirate copies....
I was in China last month attending one of the biggest audio-visual trade shows.
90 percent of music and movies sold in China and India are way overpriced for the public. For example a DVD costs between $9-$11.
As long as the price remains high piracy will happen...doesnt matter if it is Guiterez or his mother-in-law is the US Anti-Piracy Police Chief.
A few weeks back I was dealing with a top Indian VCD/DVD distributor in Bombay. Later I saw films from his label at the nearest roadside shack selling for Rs.50-100 ($1-$2) with the same label/cover/inlay card/logo/details as the ones available in regular stores. Later I realised it is the same guy who distributes to both the regular stores and the 'pirate'.
This business practice makes sense for the distributor...he makes a profit whether he is selling to a regular store or 'pirate' (a slimmer margin when he sells to the 'pirate'). And we all know the material cost for producing a DVD.
I also heard both original DVDs and duplicates are made in the same factory...which is real socialism.
Tat Tvam Asi