M+E Daily
US Trade Representative: New Forms Of Digital Piracy Emerge
Story Highlights
Even as foreign trading partners clamp down on illegal optical media production and distribution, new forms of digital piracy are emerging, according to a recent report from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content over the Internet is but one facet of a growing problem. U.S. copyright holders complain to the USTR that in some countries, mobile devices such as cell phones and flash drives are pre-loaded with pirated copies of films, music (including ringtones), games, and scanned books.
The USTR urges foreign governments to ratify and implement the WIPO Internet Treaties, which proscribe copyright infringement, as the first steps in combating digital piracy.
Although Internet piracy is rapidly supplanting physical piracy in many markets, optical disc piracy remains a problem in many regions. Countries including Malaysia, the Philippines and Romania have implemented new controls on disc piracy. But other countries such as China, India, Paraguay and Thailand “have not made sufficient progress” in either enacting new legislation or enforcing existing laws, the USTR says.
China, Russia, India, and Pakistan are among the countries remaining on the USTR’s “Priority Watch List.” The trade representative also continues to monitor optical disc piracy in countries including Romania and Colombia.
Download USTR’s report here.
