The Copyright Act 1987 will be amended to give the government more bite in handling intellectual property and copyright related matters, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
He said the ministry hopes to table the amendments in the Parliamentary meeting in June.
Among the proposed amendments are to enhance current controls over the purchase or ownership of pirated CD, VCD or DVDs.
Also proposed will be action against owners of premises selling pirated goods.
Currently, Section 41(2) of the Copyright Act states that it is an offence for "any person who has in his possession, custody or control three or more infringing copies of a work or recording."
Ismail Sabri said currently, action is only taken against producers and those who sell the pirated goods, but with the amendments, once approved, the action goes across the board for everyone, making it an offence for anyone to own even a single copy of pirated works.
He, however, said legal provisions are only one aspect of the matter but stressed that more awareness is vital to put an end to this problem.
"There can be many legal provisions and enforcement in place but unless the demand stops, the supply will remain.
"By this way, we hope to educate the public that owning pirated goods is as good as owning stolen goods. We hope the people will realise that action can be taken against them too if they are caught buying or owning pirated CDs," said Ismail Sabri after launching the Anti-Piracy 2010 campaign today.
He said it is vital for people to be aware that by purchasing pirated goods, they also become an accomplice in the activity and rob artists of their intellectual property rights.
Asked on the penalties under the proposed amendments, Ismail Sabri said it is in the final stages of the being drafted.
Ismail Sabri also said the Trade Descriptions Act 1972 will also be amended to handle production of counterfeit products, including introducing penalties that are more deterrent.
He said from 2005 till April this year, the ministry has seized RM275 million worth of pirated CD, VCD, DVDs and the machinery to produce them.
For counterfeit products, the ministry has seized goods worth RM125 million. He also said the ministry has identified 115 and 345 "hot spots" for pirated goods and counterfeit products respectively.
When asked to comment on the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Bill, Ismail Sabri said the bill is in the final stages in the Attorney-General's Chambers and he hopes to table it in the June parliamentary meeting.
It was reported last week that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will only be implemented afer the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Bill has been approved.
