Crackdown on US pirates urged to curb piracy in Asia

If you want to curb the trade in fake CDs and DVDs here, you have to go after "pirates" in your own country.

Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri (Lakas, Bukidnon) made this suggestion yesterday to United States assistant commerce secretary William Lash III who complained about the failure of the government to enforce an international agreement protecting intellectual property rights.

The visiting official made the complaint after bargain hunting at Virra Mall in Greenhills, San Juan, where he bought pirate DVD copies of James Bond movie "Die Another Day" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" for less than P100 each.

He said he was shocked to find out that there are pirated DVD copies of these recently released films and that they are being sold openly.

Zubiri said Lash should not have been surprised by what he discovered in Greenhills.

"Where are the pirates? They’re right inside US theaters filming newly released movies. The US government should go after them because the conveyor belt of pirated products starts from them," he said.

He suggested that US officials should use their much-vaunted know-how and network in busting counterfeiting syndicates operating under their very noses.

Zubiri was however quick to clarify that he was not condoning piracy.

"I am for protecting intellectual property rights. I just want the campaign against piracy to be more effective," he said.

He said the Philippines and other Asian governments should go after counterfeiting syndicates in their respective territories. – Jess Diaz