As the Christmas shopping rush reaches a peak record industry bosses are encouraging shoppers to not buy counterfeit CDs, and to avoid sellers they suspect may sell pirated goods. The BPI’s Anti-Piracy Unit is planning to step up its work with Trading Standards Departments and the police in raiding markets, boot sales and computer fairs where it believes pirated CDs are on sale in the least up to Christmas.
Talking about the campaign Andrew Yeates, BPI Director General, told reporters: “Our consumers need to understand that the success of Robbie Williams or Coldplay today helps fund the new acts of tomorrow. It is sometimes overlooked that piracy in the music business is theft. Last year levels of commercial piracy increased in the UK by a third and the global pirate music market exceeded 1.9 billion units. This means that 40% of all CDs and cassettes sold around the world are pirated copies. No industry can afford to lose this level of business whilst continuing to carry the responsibility for investment and development in new talent.”
Nick Kounoupias of the MCPS Anti-Piracy Unit added: “What people so easily forget when they are tempted to buy a fake CD is that there are a lot of people working very hard behind-the-scenes in the creation of legitimate CDs. Counterfeiters invest no time, effort or talent whatsoever, yet happily steal the hard work of others to make big profits for themselves. These aren’t modern day Robin Hoods - they’re criminals who very often use the money they make from counterfeiting to fund other criminal activity in local neighbourhoods. Consumers have a responsibility not to let that happen. If you’re offered cheap CDs down the pub, at work or at any of the many markets and boot sales around the country – think before you buy.”