Pirates love the Singapore port
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I AM A PIRATE
IF YOU want to produce pirated discs, Singapore will be the last place you will choose as a base — and a study proves that.
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In fact, given its commitment to upholding intellectual property (IP) rights, even trying to distribute counterfeit discs here is a bad idea.
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But, in the hands of movie pirates, Singapore's impeccable reputation and its status as a shipping hub have become lethal weapons.
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The result: Singapore has become a "very major transhipment point" for pirated discs, according to Mr Mike Ellis, regional senior vice-president and director of the Motion Picture Association (MPA). At the same time, it's being used as a "cleansing" country for this tainted, pirated material, he added.
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Said Mr Ellis: "The perception is that if the cargo comes from Singapore, it must be clean."
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The pirates, then, adopt a deceptively simple but effective strategy. The tainted cargo is loaded onto the vessels that make their way to Singapore's port. It never enters Singapore and is merely loaded onto other ships docked here, from where it makes its way to other countries.
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In the process, it acquires the Singapore stamp of respectability. And, in the buzz of activity at the Singapore port, which prides itself on its quick turnaround times, some point to the obvious dilemma: It would be virtually impossible — and extremely disruptive — for the authorities to go around examining every consignment that is being transhipped.
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Said Mr Ellis: "The situation has improved. But as long as Singapore remains a major transhipment route for all goods, pirate syndicates will find a way to deliver their products through Singapore."
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But a reputation so sterling can quite easily be exploited. According to shipping documents, many pirated optical discs that were smuggled into other countries had passed through Singapore's ports, said Mr Ellis.
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The pirates got in on the act some years back. In 2004, more than 300,000 pirated DVDs seized by British customs had come on ships from Singapore.
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"These numbers ranked Singapore in the top three countries — with Malaysia and Pakistan — in terms of the number of pirated DVDs seized at points of entry (in the UK)," said Mr Ellis.
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By 2005, Africa had overtaken Britain as the major importer of pirated optical discs. The Intellectual Property Rights Branch then managed to seize some 435,000 pirated VCDs here that were bound for that continent.
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Nevertheless, last year, some 28,000 pirated optical discs seized in Africa had passed through Singapore's ports, said Mr Ellis.
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His association has been working with the Singaporean authorities to weed out the problem.
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"Clearly if we have intelligence and we can provide that to the Singapore authorities, I would like to think they will look at the problem," said Mr Ellis.
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A Singapore Customs official confirmed as much. "When assistance is requested and it is within our legal jurisdiction, Singapore Customs will do its utmost to investigate and take actions against the offenders," said the spokesperson.
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The customs authorities have the power to confiscate illicit cargo "provided that the goods are consigned to a person with a commercial or physical presence in Singapore".
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An experienced shipping lawyer, however, pointed to the constraints. "The customs can't be going around checking every ship, but if they have reasons to suspect a ship is a security threat, I'm sure they would do something about it, whether or not the goods are linked to Singapore," said the lawyer.
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The numbers for Singapore were not very large — with 5,181 pirated discs ferreted out of secret compartments from Malaysian and Singapore-registered vehicles.
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Said Mr Ellis: "In Singapore, the problem has largely shifted to the Internet (through illegal downloading). We walk along the streets of Singapore, we don't see the physical products, although we still get door-to-door salesmen and office salesmen.
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"Otherwise, you can call Johor Baru and get the discs delivered."
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Piracy problem doesn't just stop with discs
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Forget Louis Vuitton handbags. Copycats in Asia are turning to everyday products like shampoo and milk powder to make a fast buck – with more devastating consequences.
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Based on customs seizures, some US$1.92 billion ($2.92 billion) of counterfeits were traded internationally last year. And according to a global survey by Spire, counterfeits account for up to a quarter of unit sales and cause manufacturers to lose up to 28 per cent of profit in Asia.
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The survey showed that fast-moving consumer goods – including clothing, over-the-counter medication and skincare products – make up one in 10 of counterfeits produced in the region. While imitations of luxury goods, which make up 25 per cent of all counterfeits, continue to dominate the industry, fake over-the-counter medication and household items are raising concern.
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They're riding the S'pore brand to push their cargo elsewhere -
the thing about piracy like that, is that the ports here check first and foremost for security items like bombs, arms and radioactive things...
anyway, if anything, they should be looking at Wal-Mart.. it would seem that only about 5% of their cargo is actually scanned... Wal-Mart can be a hub for all kinds of illegal activity
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nice one.
we also quite famous for such stuff eh? -
We got long tradition mah: -->> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUFyw86c9JM
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hey, piracy of movies and games is a good thing
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Pirates good wat
without them
cant expect us to buy originial games or software
so expensive
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i think the most effective way of combating piracy is to bring the price of the original software / movies lower. If there is not too big a difference, consumers will be less inclined to choose the pirated one.
It applies also for other items - eg: bags, clothes.
I would not pay $60 to buy a game when i can get a pirated one at less than $10. But if the original one is selling at $12 - I will buy original because the difference is only $2.
These movie makers / software companies are on one hand, shouting piracy is theft, on the other hand, earn huge profits, are exploiting us. Actually if they could lower their prices abit, they could see more. Thats the economies of scale - but with greed, they would not and piracy is present. -
Aye... a bit long,Originally posted by fatslob:We got long tradition mah: -->> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUFyw86c9JM
HINT: watch for the dialogue somewhere in the middle of the clip
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sadly, their stupid "region coding" is one of the things that drove piracy...
if i buy a NTSC/UC game, i can't play it on my NTSC/J set...
i'm not about to go buy a NTSC/UC, a NTSC/J and a PAL set each for the games...
so i go chip my one console.. and by doing that, i can play the pirated games.. -
I think even with optical disc piracy eradication.. We will have TEH INTERNET...
I used to buy pirated DVDs, PC Games, PS2 Games from JB but up to a year ago i discovered Bittorrent..
I now download all movies, music, games, etc
Downloading at broadband speeds is the new evolution of piracy.
They can't stop the masses from buying and downloading
i now seldom buy pirated stuff so seeing how they can't stop optical disc piracy, i'd say we don't really have to worry much
Piracy is like a 3 headed hydra. Cut one head off and another will take over. -
I agree that this region coding thing is stupid and ineffective and redundant in stopping piracy. It ought to be abolished.Originally posted by the Bear:sadly, their stupid "region coding" is one of the things that drove piracy...
if i buy a NTSC/UC game, i can't play it on my NTSC/J set...
i'm not about to go buy a NTSC/UC, a NTSC/J and a PAL set each for the games...
so i go chip my one console.. and by doing that, i can play the pirated games.. -
I felt the price is rather justified. If you're the writer of the software, don't you want your time to be compensated? Writing a game or a software isn't something which can be done in a jiffy.Originally posted by red_amoeba:i think the most effective way of combating piracy is to bring the price of the original software / movies lower. If there is not too big a difference, consumers will be less inclined to choose the pirated one.
It applies also for other items - eg: bags, clothes.
I would not pay $60 to buy a game when i can get a pirated one at less than $10. But if the original one is selling at $12 - I will buy original because the difference is only $2.
These movie makers / software companies are on one hand, shouting piracy is theft, on the other hand, earn huge profits, are exploiting us. Actually if they could lower their prices abit, they could see more. Thats the economies of scale - but with greed, they would not and piracy is present. -
Originally posted by photo_seeker:I felt the price is rather justified. If you're the writer of the software, don't you want your time to be compensated? Writing a game or a software isn't something which can be done in a jiffy.
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Would you rather earn like 50% less per disc; or earn ZERO per disc?
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why should programmers and software giants earn inordinately high profits?
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YAR HAR FIDDLE DEE DEE, BEING A PIRATE IS ALRIGHT WITH ME.
DO WHAT YOU WANT, CAUSE A PIRATE IS FREE.
YOU ARE A PIRATE! -
quiet leh, i pirate u know...
dun sabo me
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Singapore got owned.
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maybe it's time for the DVD dog sniffers to come out? singapore should like get a few of them
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Thats why we always one of the first countries in the world for movie premieres..
most of the time singaproe will show first. -
amen -
Incidentally in upcoming sequel of Pirates Of The Carribean: At World's End
Which is set mostly in Singapore (WE'RE A F**KING PIRATE PORT IN THE MOVIE)
Ironic?
Here is the pirate song from Pirates Of The Carribean
Yo ho, yo ho a pirates life for me
we pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
we kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
we extort, we pilfage, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties yo ho
Maraude and embezzle and even hijack
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and flame and ignite
Drink up me 'earties yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really afright
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho!
We're rascals, scoundrels, villans and naves
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We're devils and blacksheep and really bad eggs
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho a pirates life for me
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do well cats
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho
I think we're loved by our mommies and dads.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho! -
MY PIRATE NAME!!!!!
Dread Pirate Kidd
Like the famous Dread Pirate Roberts, you have a keen head for how to make a profit. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!
http://www.piratequiz.com/ -
we'll just ignore the bugs and inadequecies of the softwares for the moment.Originally posted by photo_seeker:I felt the price is rather justified. If you're the writer of the software, don't you want your time to be compensated? Writing a game or a software isn't something which can be done in a jiffy.
wanting the time compensated is not the price you set but the profits/revenue you generate. settign a high price doesn't mean high profits, it will jsut drive consummers to look for bootleg.
on the other hand, lowering the price to an acceptable level will probably increase the sales of legitimate copies and might garner higher revenue. -
everybody n everything has a price.Originally posted by the Bear:the thing about piracy like that, is that the ports here check first and foremost for security items like bombs, arms and radioactive things...
anyway, if anything, they should be looking at Wal-Mart.. it would seem that only about 5% of their cargo is actually scanned... Wal-Mart can be a hub for all kinds of illegal activity