Have you watched New Moon already? Several announcements are being made saying that screening of this hyped-up teen flick in Metro Manila will be non-extendible due to the Manila Film Festival set on December 25.
Don’t fret though. If you really want to watch this flick (and ogle at all the shirtless scenes of the werewolves), but has no time to do so nor the money to spare for cinema, I’m pretty sure that pirated DiBidi’s are already out and about flea markets such as in Quiapo, Greenhills, Metrowalk or even in Philcoa.
That’s just the way it is here in Pinas. Piracy is everywhere and it’s a thriving business. It’s not hard to understand why. In a third-world country where people don’t even have enough money to buy decent meals, buying original copies of DVD’s is just plain ridiculous, isn’t it? I for one admit to buying all those pirated movies because the original is just too expensive. And when there is a cheaper and decent alternative, Pinoys will readily go for that; more so when such cheap alternatives are shamelessly accessible for all to buy.
A study conducted by the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) which includes American organizations that count publishers, business software producers, motion picture firms and music companies as members, the Philippines has done little to improve anti-piracy efforts to merit removal from the US Special Priority Watchlist over the years.
But the two groups conceded that there is hope for the flowers.
IP Philippines had progressed in plans to put up special IP courts to hasten trials and that seizures of fake goods increased. Proposed rules for handling IP cases were presented to the Supreme Court last month. How about setting up a reward system?
As aptly stated by the IIPA, “Only time will tell whether IP courts can be successfully established to achieve greater effectiveness in IP rights enforcement.”
Good luck to that. While respect for the intellectual property rights is central to economic growth, we also have to understand that consumers should be offered more flexible, hassle-free, legitimate and hopefully cheaper alternatives to enjoy their favorite movies (such as New Moon, for example??) through new and innovative technologies.
Source: Business World article: Groups claim minimal gains made in RP anti-piracy effort by Jessica Anne D. Hermosa. November 24, 2009.
1stphoto: www.chinaexpat.com/files/u1/pirated.jpg,
2nd photo: http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/antipiracy.htm
1 comment:
Dear Carol,
I feel in uncharted waters making a comment. A friend sent me this link because of the unusual reference to hope for the flowers in the midst of this article on piracy.
Since this seems to be the Philippines and my book, Hope For the Flowers, is so popular there it seems a likely connection and I was very intrigued!
With a little team, I am making an effort to learn and get involved with the internet sites to spread the message of Hope, that crawling over others gets us no place good. We need fliers, who risk the coccoon to bring Hope to many flowers. Thanks for all you are doing.
My brand new page on Facebook is "Hope For the Flowers by Trina Paulus". The other one with almost 800 lovely fans is frustrating in that I cannot get in touch with everyone there and can't find the owner. So i hope they all move over so we can communicate better. My new web site is www.hopefortheflowers.org.
Peace, and hope always, Trina Paulus, author of Hope For the Flowers.
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