Government is improving its capacity to ensure that perpetrators of pirated CDs and DVDs are brought to book. This was said by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies at the Anti-Piracy Awareness Campaign that was held in Kliptown, Soweto today.
Minister Davies said that the Anti-Piracy Campaign will focus on those big businesses that are involved in the illegal manufacturing of the CDs and DVDs music.
“People who are selling pirated CDs and DVDs music on the streets are small fry compared to manufacturers who are behind the scene. We call on the public to come forward with information that will assist us to crack the network of criminals who have impoverished our artists and undermined their intellectual property rights,” said Davies.
The dti launched the National Anti-piracy Campaign late last year with the purpose to mobilise the public about the negative impact of piracy and to urge them to adopt an anti-piracy attitude.
The campaign is also intended to educate and create awareness about the interventions contained in the existing legal framework, the Copyright Act and related matters, which can assist and empower artists, according to the statement.
Today’s campaign is the third leg of a series of planned activities across the country. Other campaigns have been held in the Western Cape and Free State.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell : 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Source: Department of Trade and Industry
