While advertising CDs or DVDs on TV, radio or through other medium there is always an annex followed, “buy only licensed discs with holographic sign”.
This certifies on that the market is full of non-licensed or as said of “pirate” products, where there is no word on copyright at all.
Today one may find arbitrary disks, both of local and foreign production, in each store and subway. Of course, it is about the non-licensed versions, moreover, at a few times lower price than original ones, 700-1000 AMD (about $2-3). Their authors, the “pirates”, justify their activity by telling that the non-original version of the product is more accessed for the citizens , and they are less concerned about the author’s copyright.
Since March 1, 2011 the RA law on ‘Mandatory labeling of audiovisual magnetic carriers through control signs (stamp labels)’ has come into force. In case of the law’s full application the “pirate” cobweb will vanish, licensed discs with holographic signs will only be sold in stores, and authorship will be protected.
Meanwhile, in Yerevan, disk sellers of a few stores and tables located adjacent to subways unanimously insist that the new law will monopolize this business.
While advertising CDs or DVDs on TV, radio or through other medium there is always an annex followed, “buy only licensed discs with holographic sign”.
This certifies on that the market is full of non-licensed or as said of “pirate” products, where there is no word on copyright at all.
Today one may find arbitrary disks, both of local and foreign production, in each store and subway. Of course, it is about the non-licensed versions, moreover, at a few times lower price than original ones, 700-1000 AMD (about $2-3). Their authors, the “pirates”, justify their activity by telling that the non-original version of the product is more accessed for the citizens , and they are less concerned about the author’s copyright.
Since March 1, 2011 the RA law on ‘Mandatory labeling of audiovisual magnetic carriers through control signs (stamp labels)’ has come into force. In case of the law’s full application the “pirate” cobweb will vanish, licensed discs with holographic signs will only be sold in stores, and authorship will be protected.
Meanwhile, in Yerevan, disk sellers of a few stores and tables located adjacent to subways unanimously insist that the new law will monopolize this business.
“Those selling discs for already 10-15 years will be removed from the game, then, 3 months later, on the basis of the population complaints а semi-oligarch will appear ready to enter into a bargain with high instances and will open a shop by taking the whole business in his hands. It is aimed to remove us from the game rather than to struggle against the “pirate” product, since there was and will always be “pirating,” says the director of one of the disc stores in Yerevan.
Referring to copyright, the latter says that, of course, he recognizes that they are violating the copyright of composers and performers, but they cannot do anything, it’s their business.
The new law, according to disc sellers, will not regulate the field, since relevant institutions struggling against it are in transaction with producers of “pirate” discs.
Composer Ara Gevorgian, who almost every day faces cases of copyright infringement desires that the new law will really start to operate, “Wish everything was just as the new law envisages. Wish the new law entered into force as soon as possible and started to apply and benefit the authors, and the state.”
Ara Gevorgian believes that things regarding copyright are in a disgraceful situation in Armenia, “Armenia is on the “best and top” lines in “pirating”, however the field should finally be regulated,” says the composer.
Referring to the observation of “pirates” on that original CDs or DVDs are more expensive, and therefore they create relatively cheaper ones available to citizens, Gevorgyan says that this, too, does not justify them and they have no right to falsify his works, “For example, my discs are published in the American high-quality precious plants and naturally have very expensive design containing names of world famous musicians, playing in the disc. However, after a short time I find my discs without those names and design. But I paid for these names.”
Source: JNews.am