Global music industry : three perspectives / Arthur Bernstein, Naoki Sekine, Dick Weissman. (pgs 136-139, 227-237)

Bernstein, Arthur. . Global music industry : three perspectives / Arthur Bernstein, Naoki Sekine, Dick Weissman. 9780415975797 series New York : Routledge, c2007.
Call#: Van Pelt Library ML3790 .B39 2007

Not only is music piracy a problem in the United States, but it has become a nuisance for the music industry in Europe as well. On pages 137 and 138, the authors give four reasons as to why piracy has emerged and expanded in Europe. The first reason is the fact that there is a direct correlation between the penetration of broadband internet services and illegal downloading and file sharing. The second reason is an increasing amount of organized crime. Setting up an illegal downloading facility is very low-risk as compared to other illegal activities such as drug smuggling. The third reason is the emergence of the European Union (EU) and the relaxation of border controls which made it quite easy to transport pirated CDs across Europe from countries in which the piracy rate was high. The last reason that the authors gave was the development of new music technologies that can hold a greater number of songs.

As in the United States, many different strategies are being implemented around Europe to combat piracy. In 2006, a piece of legislation called The EU Enforcement Directive was put into place to help define activities that are considered infringement. It also provides civil measures such as injunctions and seizures. Legislation in Spain featured the creation of special intellectual enforcement units along with training programs for police and judges and campaigns to raise public awareness. Other countries continue to use existing laws but are attempting to enforce them more actively.

Most of Asia has very high levels of piracy. China and Indonesia have the two highest levels of piracy in the world. One reason for these extremely high levels is the fact that most income is spent for living and pirated music is cheap and readily available for the individual whose funds for entertainment are limited. Another reason is the lack of action by governments against the piracy.

Asian countries have implemented their own schemes for dealing with the piracy situation. China for example joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 and fully implemented its TRIPS program which sets laws for intellectual property copyright. China also increases raids and seizures and lowered their threshold for applying criminal penalties. The government of Taiwan amended their copyright law making piracy a public crime. Enforcement by law enforcement officers has increased against night market venders and has been quite successful. Many other Asian countries are using similar strategies.

This source like a few of my other sources demonstrates a difference in the effects of piracy on diverse countries around the world. It helps to expand my topic of how piracy has evolved in different cultures.

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Global music industry : three perspectives / Arthur Bernstein, Naoki Sekine, Dick Weissman. (pgs 136-139, 227-237)