MGM loses the war against piracy in Vietnam - $1 Bond

12-Dec-2002 • Bond News

Reuters have reported that as little as eight days after the release of "Die Another Day", pirated DVD versions of the movie shot with camcorders were being hawked for a little over $1 in Vietnam`s capital in a shop next door to Vietnam`s Trade Ministry office.

The room is stacked to the ceiling with cheaply packaged DVDs of 200 films. A young salesman said he has served a wide range of customers, even diplomats.

"When it comes down to one`s pocket, they are here," the salesman dryly commented.

A year after the communist-run country signed a historic bilateral trade pact with the United States that included a 22-page section on protection of intellectual property, there is much work to be done.

Under the pact, the southeast Asian country promised to be compliant on patent and trademarks within 12 months of the December agreement, and on copyright and trademarks within 18 months. The trade pact took effect on December 10, 2001.

U.S. officials have warned that continued neglect in enforcing such rules could hit foreign investment and lead to trade sanctions. But for this one DVD shop, little has changed.

Vietnam is not the only country selling fakes.

Malaysia, China, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia and even squeaky-clean Singapore all offer imitation entertainment products. China and Russia have been cited as the biggest offenders.

Movie executives estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent of all movies sold worldwide on DVD or videocassette are pirated.

Thanks to Umpire for the alert.