|
|
|
|
|
What Is Internet Piracy?
Internet piracy is the downloading or distribution of unauthorized copies of intellectual property such as movies, television, music, games and software programs via the Internet. Illegal downloads occur in many forms including via file sharing networks, pirate servers, websites and hacked computers. Each file posted on the Internet can result in millions of downloads. Posting movies on a peer-to-peer (P2P) network or unauthorized website can result in the transmission of these illegal files to millions of people.
Hard goods pirates, who distribute illegal copies of copyrighted material recorded onto DVDs, CDs and videotapes, use the Internet to extend their reach, selling these materials through auctions and websites.
Piracy is theft, and pirates are thieves, plain and simple. Downloading a movie or television program off the Internet and distributing it is the same as taking a DVD off a store shelf without paying for it.
In Malaysia the importation, replication and illegal distribution of pirate DVDs is currently the most common form of movie theft, but the with the rapid penetration of broadband piracy via the Internet is soon expected to become the dominant source.
|
|
|
The Global Avalanche of Internet Piracy
The primary source of newly released pirated movies is thieves who camcord films in theaters. Illegally recorded movies are then sold to individuals who distribute them around the world through an underground network of computer servers known as "topsites."
To view a short presentation on the Global Avalanche of Piracy, please select one of the following options:
|
Windows Media (wmv): |
view |
|
The Pyramid of Internet Piracy |
pdf |
|
|
|
What Are Peer-To-Peer (P2p) File-Sharing Services?
A peer-to-peer service enables computers to connect directly to each other in order to distribute and copy files. Software applications utilize these networks to search for and trade every kind of file. Examples of P2P services include eDonkey, Kazaa, Limewire and DirectConnect.
When you download a file from a P2P network, besides putting yourself at risk of the legal consequences of illegally distributing movies, you're opening your computer up to potentially dangerous situations. As many individuals and businesses have found out the hard way, file-sharing applications can turn personal computers into directories and distributors of a variety of illegal material, viruses and worms.
By inviting complete strangers to access your hard drive, you also risk exposing private information such as bank records, tax file numbers and personal photographs, in addition to making yourself vulnerable to identity theft.
|
|
|
What Is MFACT Doing To Combat The Problem?
MFACT has a multi-pronged approach to fighting
Internet piracy, which includes educating people
about the consequences of piracy, taking action
against Internet pirates and working with law
enforcement authorities around the world to root out
pirate operations. MFACT cooperates with the
government, law enforcement agencies, other
copyright holders and trademark owners in a number
of initiatives in Malaysia.
MFACT also has an alliance with copyright owners to
share information regarding copyright infringement,
and is a member of the Malaysian Intellectual
Property Association (MIPA) which represents the
interests of Malaysia's major intellectual property
stakeholders, including the music, computer
software, computer games and publishing industries.
For further information, see
Education
|
|
|
|
|
|
