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 Entertainment | December 2005 
Film, Music Biz Launch 'Blitz' On Holiday Piracy
 Brooks Boliek - Reuters
| | Some of the 400,000 pirated compact discs and DVDs confiscated by Mexican police in Cancun during a recent anti-piracy operation are seen in a parking lot before their destruction December 2, 2005. (Victor Ruiz/Reuters) |
Hollywood hopes to make Christmas a little less jolly and profitable for people who deal in illicit DVDs and CDs as it launches "Holiday Blitz," a coast-to-coast effort aimed at getting pirated movies and sound recordings off the streets.
Because the year-end holidays are one of the peak times for the counterfeit sale of copyrighted products, industry officials caution that consumers and retailers alike must remain extra vigilant at this time of year.
Copyright holders hope Holiday Blitz will prevent seasonal shoppers from purchasing illegally made CDs and DVDs and stem sales losses by the music labels and movie studios during the crucial holiday season.
"The holiday season is a time to for people to enjoy quality entertainment with family and friends, and we want to make sure that consumers are safeguarded against pirates peddling counterfeit products," Motion Picture Assn. of America chairman and CEO Dan Glickman said. "With so many people buying movies and music for their friends and loved ones, we want to ensure that buyers are getting the real 'Chicken Little' and not some pirated turkey."
Targeting piracy on the street and in stores, the program uses enforcement actions by local authorities, voluntary product surrenders by merchants and civil litigation to help keep pirated works out of people's hands. The program runs for a period of two months, and started in mid-November.
Industry officials estimate that as many as 1.5 million illegal CDs and DVDs will be taken off the market during this year's Holiday Blitz program. As a result of last year's effort, authorities seized more than 845,000 CDs - valued at more than $4 million - and more than 754,480 DVDs. Local law enforcement arrested 389 individuals in conjunction with last year's Holiday Blitz.
"The growing sophistication of today's pirate music trade demands a watchful eye from legitimate retailers and consumers alike," Recording Industry Assn. of America anti-piracy exec vp Brad Buckles said. "Selling or giving the gift of stolen goods is not in anyone's best interest. Not only does the sale of counterfeit CDs come at a tremendous loss to artists, songwriters, record labels and many others in the music community, it effects the quality of life of the local community as well." |
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