Avast and desist.
| Author | Allsbrook, Wesley |
Piracy has become a huge problem that's threatening the future of several global industries. The US, UK and EU are among the jurisdictions to have introduced legal measures to repel the pirates - but there are serious doubts about their effectiveness.
The term "intellectual property" (IP) refers to creations of the mind - such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs and symbols - as well as names and images used in commerce. It is protected in law by copyright, trademarks and patents, which enable the creators to earn recognition or financial benefits as a result of their work. The legal definition of IP piracy is "the unauthorised duplication of matter protected by intellectual property".
The FBI believes that such activities represent "a growing threat - especially with the rise of digital technologies and interne file-sharing networks. IP theft costs US businesses billions of dollars a year and the nation of tax revenues. The massive infiltration of counterfeit and pirated goods drains $ftrn from the global economy and robs it of over 2.5 million jobs. Unsafe and ineffective products now pose a risk to millions of consumers."
Julian Sanchez, a senior research fellow and economics expert at the Cato Institute, an independent US think-tank, adds: "The effects of piracy in the US are mainly redistributions within the economy for other purposes. The result is a loss to the content industry. Eliminating piracy in the US would boost employment in copyright-intensive sectors."
Crying foul
In the sports industry, the illegal redistribution of match footage online is a growing threat to clubs, franchises and governing bodies worldwide. The Barclays Premier League, the elite football league of England and Wales, has battled to prevent fans from buying decoders from foreign broadcasters and watching their coverage at a knock-down price. The organisation has entered an agreement to work with IP rights company NetResult to take down pirated live streaming sites and video clips online. League officials also recently announced a deal with media protection firm Irdeto to support its efforts to stop the illicit trade in TV receivers capable of decoding footage streamed online.
"It is only through legitimate investment in our broadcasting rights that we can put on a high-quality competition and invest in all levels of English football and beyond," says Richard Scudamore, the league's chief executive. "Piracy threatens that model."
But beating...
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