Programme director,
Deputy Ministers of Trade and Industry,
Director General,
Industry representatives and partners,
Ladies and gentleman;
Good morning.
We have welcomed the invitation from the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry today because we believe that, “working together we can do more” to address common challenges. In this instance, the challenge is the cancer of piracy.
In June this year, we launched the Film and Publication Board (FPB) Anti-Child Pornography Campaign which is currently underway. It is aimed at creating awareness amongst children, parents and care-givers on the dangers and risks associated with the exposure children to pornographic material and the illegal use of children in the creation of such content.
As most of you may already know, the FPB is mandated to classify content aimed for public viewing and distribution in the Republic of South Africa, to ensure that it is in line with current legislation governing the production and distribution of films and publications, This is aimed at ensuring that consumers are provided with the necessary tools to avoid exposure of minors and children to inappropriate content in relation to their age.
When the Film and Publication Board hosted a Distributors Conference earlier this year, we invited the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to participate. Among other things, attention was given to the relationship between illegal distributors and the distribution of pirated goods.
We understand piracy to be more than just a crime, but also an immoral act and a cancer that:
• steals the income of hard working artists and producers plus their families
• eats away the income that would have been generated in the retail chain of the media content which may result in the loss of job opportunities
• cuts off the government revenue that would have been generated in the retail chain of the media content
• removes the possibility of consumers to make informed choices by distributing material that is not classified by the FPB
Faced with such a multifaceted cancer, partnership is not only desirable, but it becomes a necessary measure if any effort is to have a meaningful impact in curbing and reversing its spread.
The FPB has over time maintained a close working relationship with the DTI-Consumer Affairs Unit specifically aimed at empowering consumers and citizens on their rights and responsibilities in protecting children against exposure to harmful content, distribution of unclassified material and the need to guard against the creation of markets for the sale and distribution of pirated material.
Working with the Police, the FPB has confiscated 84 162 counterfeit goods that were unrated.
Our current relations with the DTI are informed by the Consumer focus we share in ensuring the protection of the South Africans and the Films, Publications and Music industries of our country against all elements that may seek to undermine and place at risks consumers and the artists involved in the production of such material.
Part of the focus of the DTI Consumer Affairs Unit centres on the protection of intellectual property and the need to ensure citizens receive authentic material in its original form which if pirated, may be tempered with to include scenes and/or content that is not contained in the classified authentic copies of the said material.
The relationship between pirated goods and unclassified material is real and requires that the DTI together with the FPB, as the regulatory authority responsible for the classification of content, improve the interaction and cooperation in fighting piracy and the related incidence of unclassified material that may be found in pirated content.
Partnerships similar to the FPB and DTI partnership on the Anti-Piracy Campaign and the Campaign against Child Pornography are necessary to show the coherence of government in the promotion of a knowledgeable and responsible citizenry with a clear understanding of consumer rights and responsibilities. Law enforcement becomes an additional component to deal with those who fail to heed our messages.
We believe that the objectives of these campaigns are shared with industry players such as artists, producers and production house owners. We also have various civil society organisations that have an interest in the industry, which makes them important stakeholders. Therefore we should all join hands together to ensure that such campaigns cover the consumers as far as possible.
We are pleased to be with you as we launch the Anti-Piracy Campaign. We are confident that the deliberations during the two days will help us to successfully roll out a massive campaign against the cancer of piracy.
Thank you.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
E-mail: ronnie.mamoepa@dha.gov.za
