The ban on the production of Compact Disks (CDs), Digital Video Disks (DVDs) and closure of six optical disks production units in the cosmopolitan city have adversely affected Pakistani dramas, movies and other local entertainment, causing difficulties to the software developing houses on the other.
These blank write-able disks are largely used by software houses, computer science students and other IT related concerns. Even various trading, financial and other organisations particularly advertising agencies are also a market for these disks, as they keep their data backup on CDs and DVDs.
The federal government had closed six CD and DVD production plants in Karachi a few months ago. The move came after US authorities provided a list of eight CD and DVD manufacturing plants that were producing pirated materials.
The eight plants included Amin's in SITE Karachi, Amin's Aka Sons in Korangi, BS Magnetic Aka ASAHI, Multimedia Manufacturers Aka Digital, Perfect Engineering Works, Tawakkal Plastic Works, Disctech Media private limited in Karachi and Pakistan Music Corporation in Winder, Balochistan.
The US had also accused these plants of exporting pirated software and movies to Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Syria, UAE, UK and the US.
According to US estimates a total of 47.131 million CDs were smuggled in 2002. Out of this, 45 percent were audio CDs, 20 percent were video CDs, 5 percent were MP3s and 30 percent were software CDs.
The international bodies had lauded efforts of Pakistan government against mass-scale copyright violations in the country.
A joint statement of International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Business Software Alliance (BSA) and Motion Picture Association (MPA) commented, "we applaud the Pakistan government's efforts for strongly protecting the intellectual property of the musicians, film makers and software developers and believe these will benefit the country."
Besides, Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (PIPRO) had been created to oversee copyright, trademark and patent protection issues, while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested many persons and confiscated scores of pirated CDs, DVDs and audio cassettes and Master Discs (stampers).
An operation against piracy and copyright violations had become over due since Pakistan had largely been defamed producing over 230 million discs in 2004, of which vast majority was exported to more than 46 countries worldwide.
But, the closure of blank write-able compact disk manufacturing plants was not a prudent move as it was causing suffering for the local entertainment industry and creating difficulties for the software developers, computer science students and other IT related concerns. Before the ban was imposed, three plants produced 300,000 units a day and 100.8 million units a year in Karachi alone. At that very time, one blank write-able disk cost Rs35 to Rs50 and now one blank disk costs Rs100 to Rs 120.
Since the city has been deprived of six production units, severe scarcity of CDs and DVDs prevails in the provincial metropolis. And, as the law of demand and supply operates, the price of optical storage device available in the market has gone up.
It may be mentioned here that the Sindh government, keeping in view the situation, had approached the federal authorities praying to allow production plants to operate. The ban was hitting Pakistani dramas, movies and other local entertainment.
Sindh government had expressed concern adding that it had not only created unemployment at several levels and damaged the business of retailers but also had deprived the exchequer of millions of rupees that it had received in the form of taxes and other charges.
The Sindh minister was of the view that provincial government did not support piracy of any kind and had urged the government agencies to allow production of locally produced movies, drama and other kinds of entertainment.
It is pertinent to mention that exporters were earning around $3 million a month from exports of locally produced drama, films and music shows which was damaging overall industry.
Banning production of blank write-able compact disks and sealing manufacturing units of the optical storage device is not the ultimate solution to the menace of piracy and copyright violations. The move has multi-dimensional effects. Although it has discouraged piracy to an extent it has created other problems.
In this era of information revolution, restricting production of direct access storage device (DASD) that includes CDs, DVDs and write-able disks may serve as a setback to the plans of high-ups concerning technological and IT advancement.
Apart from piracy, another menace, rather a social evil that goes unchecked, is the availability of pornographic contents in the market.
The recent operation cleanup launched by federal government and FIA had its focus on piracy and copyright violation. Though the agencies confiscated some quantity of CDs and DVDs containing indecent and obscene movies, images and literature, but still the business goes on in an organised manner without any checks.
Any person, even a minor boy or girl can easily obtain a 60-min movie disk for Rs40 available at various spots. Rainbow Centre in Saddar, Karachi, is the main market and a hub of such material.
What a misfortune! When a student needs a compact disk to save his research data backup or a computer science project, she/he has to purchase a blank CD for Rs100 while the pornographic movie is available for Rs40 only.
The authorities must take up the issue and launch a more rigorous campaign against the menace.
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