David O'Connell
Chinese government cracks down on pirated DVDs
September 17th 2006 21:45
The Chinese government confiscated and destroyed almost 13 million illegal DVDs this weekend. The international community puts pressure on China to enforce copyright regulations, but it's a nearly insurmountable task.
From my own experience in China, it seems like rolling a boulder up a constantly shifting hill... even the government uses pirated copies of software, and most people own hundreds of illegal DVDs.
If the pirated DVDs weren't available, and Chinese people were forces to buy legal copies, it would send ripples of shock through the country. DVDs can cost as little as 70 cents, and an entire Seinfeld box set would put you back about $5.
Part of the problem is that the illegal DVD game is one big synchronized dance... when I'd be shopping in the markets, the police would conduct a raid, but informants would warn the merchants ahead of time and all the shops would close down in 30 seconds.
It was pretty fun to watch, but an American friend of mine had the misfortune to be in one of the DVD shops at the time of a raid. The stall owner closed the shutters, locking them all inside, telling them to be quiet. He had to wait for 30 minutes in the dark.
The police are supposed to destroy the DVDs when they confiscate them, which they did by punching the disk with a hole punch. However, officers on the take wanted to turn a profit, too, so they'd punch the inner ring of the DVD, leaving it completely playable - and then sell it back to the shops.
In my demented opinion, China will have to rid itself of piracy to join the international community... it's a difficult road, worse than kicking heroin. Cheap DVDs provide a rush to the brain and a tingling of the fingers, without digging deep in your pockets. Who could turn their backs on it?
(article from Wired Magazine)
From my own experience in China, it seems like rolling a boulder up a constantly shifting hill... even the government uses pirated copies of software, and most people own hundreds of illegal DVDs.
If the pirated DVDs weren't available, and Chinese people were forces to buy legal copies, it would send ripples of shock through the country. DVDs can cost as little as 70 cents, and an entire Seinfeld box set would put you back about $5.
Part of the problem is that the illegal DVD game is one big synchronized dance... when I'd be shopping in the markets, the police would conduct a raid, but informants would warn the merchants ahead of time and all the shops would close down in 30 seconds.
It was pretty fun to watch, but an American friend of mine had the misfortune to be in one of the DVD shops at the time of a raid. The stall owner closed the shutters, locking them all inside, telling them to be quiet. He had to wait for 30 minutes in the dark.
The police are supposed to destroy the DVDs when they confiscate them, which they did by punching the disk with a hole punch. However, officers on the take wanted to turn a profit, too, so they'd punch the inner ring of the DVD, leaving it completely playable - and then sell it back to the shops.
In my demented opinion, China will have to rid itself of piracy to join the international community... it's a difficult road, worse than kicking heroin. Cheap DVDs provide a rush to the brain and a tingling of the fingers, without digging deep in your pockets. Who could turn their backs on it?
(article from Wired Magazine)
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Comment by Victoria
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Comment by Jimbo
Comment by Cibbuano
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luke, Chinese people are incredibly versatile... if DVDs were shut down, they'd find something else.
jim, microsoft will have to drop their prices much further down, I think...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I read an article where in China, even the commercial TV stations play pirated material.
I agree that i see no immediate solution to piracy, in China or anywhere else.
Bringing down the price of originals will possibly reduce it, but there will always be people who take something for nothing.
Comment by Cibbuano
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You're right, John, there will always be people to take something for nothing...
Comment by Adrienne