SOFIA, Bulgaria—Bulgaria has the highest rate of Internet piracy in the European Union, according to European director of the International Recording Federation (IFPI), Frances Moore, national bTV reported.
Moore met with Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, and the Business Software Association in Sofia on Tuesday, to sign a memorandum of cooperation on copyright protection.
Moore pointed out that over 60 percent of software in Bulgaria is illegal, compared to the EU average of 35 percent. She stressed that Bulgaria cannot develop a normal music industry market because of the lack of laws to stop Internet piracy. She urged Tsvetanov to consider measures where Internet providers would be obliged to monitor their users and fine violators after two warnings.
The interior minister assured Moore that legislative measures would be discussed at round tables and public forums and he promised to have police trained to handle copyright crimes.
According to some members of the music industry, however, Moore’s recommendations would have little impact.
“Piracy significantly diminishes revenues for producers and artists, but this is not going to stop. Piracy is already a given and is steadily provided at every home PC,” said Dragomir Manzov, guitarist for a popular Bulgarian band Obraten Efekt (Reverse Effect).
“But there is also another side of the coin: In many cases, Bulgarian producers do not pay artists for their intellectual work. Those who complain about piracy most, are exactly the producers,” said Manzov.
Manzov believes that piracy is a normal phenomenon that actually helps intellectual creations reach their audience intended audience more quickly.
“It is like buying a book and not having the right to give it to a friend,” he said.
The guitarist also feels that piracy in Bulgaria is justified because of low income levels in the country.
According to Bulgarian IT experts, Internet providers should not “police” their clients. Rather, anyone who thinks their rights have been violated should contact the providers and show them evidence of their copyright. In many cases, website owners have publicly declared that if anyone asks them to remove copyrighted content they would immediately, but so far no one has asked.
Moore met with Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, and the Business Software Association in Sofia on Tuesday, to sign a memorandum of cooperation on copyright protection.
Moore pointed out that over 60 percent of software in Bulgaria is illegal, compared to the EU average of 35 percent. She stressed that Bulgaria cannot develop a normal music industry market because of the lack of laws to stop Internet piracy. She urged Tsvetanov to consider measures where Internet providers would be obliged to monitor their users and fine violators after two warnings.
The interior minister assured Moore that legislative measures would be discussed at round tables and public forums and he promised to have police trained to handle copyright crimes.
According to some members of the music industry, however, Moore’s recommendations would have little impact.
“Piracy significantly diminishes revenues for producers and artists, but this is not going to stop. Piracy is already a given and is steadily provided at every home PC,” said Dragomir Manzov, guitarist for a popular Bulgarian band Obraten Efekt (Reverse Effect).
“But there is also another side of the coin: In many cases, Bulgarian producers do not pay artists for their intellectual work. Those who complain about piracy most, are exactly the producers,” said Manzov.
Manzov believes that piracy is a normal phenomenon that actually helps intellectual creations reach their audience intended audience more quickly.
“It is like buying a book and not having the right to give it to a friend,” he said.
The guitarist also feels that piracy in Bulgaria is justified because of low income levels in the country.
According to Bulgarian IT experts, Internet providers should not “police” their clients. Rather, anyone who thinks their rights have been violated should contact the providers and show them evidence of their copyright. In many cases, website owners have publicly declared that if anyone asks them to remove copyrighted content they would immediately, but so far no one has asked.
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