Brazil Launches Hip Campaign to Deter Piracy

The results of a survey taken in Brazil show that young people, especially between the ages of 15 and 24, are big buyers of false, counterfeited, pirate goods.

A report on the survey was given to Brazilian Minister of Justice, Márcio Thomaz Bastos, Thursday, March 16, at a ceremony for the launch of a new campaign to combat piracy that is aimed at young consumers.

The theme of the campaign, in young, idiomatic speech, is "Pirata, tô fora! Só uso original" (When it comes to piracy, count me out. I only buy original stuff.)

The campaign will distribute T-shirts, buttons, hats and stickers, besides the usual TV, radio and billboard ads.

Earlier this year, in his recap of 2005, the executive secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Luiz Paulo Barreto, confirmed that 2005 was "an historic year for Brazil" in the battle against piracy.

He assured that this effort will continue in 2006, since any activity connected with piracy will no longer be tolerated.

US$ 84 million in counterfeit merchandise was confiscated just last year, 130% more than the value of the goods seized in 2004.

Altogether, 1200 individuals associated with this kind of activity were arrested, as against 40 in 2004.

"2005 was the period in which the largest number of arrests were made involving individuals involved in piracy schemes," he affirmed.

In 2006, the secretary informed, the Federal Police, Federal Revenue agency, and the Federal Highway Police will act in conjunction to combat piracy and contraband in every state of the Federation.

"We really must attack it with professionalism. And, in 2006, this will also be one of the government’s priorities, since piracy does serious harm to consumers, domestic companies, and, as a result, the country, which is deprived of tax revenues," the secretary pointed out in an exclusive interview with Radiobrás.

Around half a million counterfeit CDs and DVDs seized all over the country in 2005 were destroyed in December in front of the National Congress. This symbolic act marked National Anti-Piracy Day.

The creation of the National Anti-Piracy Council by the federal government at the end of 2005 also constituted a significant watershed in the way combating piracy is approached, according to Barreto. Since its implantation, it is possible to perceive the progress in repressing this type of crime, the executive secretary emphasized.

ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil Starts Aggressive Info Campaign on Bird Flu in Airports

The Brazilian National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) started an information campaign today on bird ...

Brazil Is Sending Technicians to Help Chavez Deal with Energy Crisis

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, faced with serious electricity and water problems,  has asked ...

Brazil: Brewing Plans from World’s Largest Coffee Coop

The Guaxupé Regional Cooperative of Coffee Producers (Cooxupé), the largest coffee cooperative in the ...

Chavez’s Allies Sure Venezuela Will Be a Mercosur Full Member by March

Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur will be completed next March according to ABN news agency ...

Brazil Starts 8,000-Men War Games on Border as Message to Neighbors

With the "main target" being the recovery of a bi-national hydroelectric dam that has ...

Hopes for Lower Interest Give Brazilians Stocks a Push

Latin American stocks were mixed to higher, with Brazilian shares gaining on hopes the ...

Brazil Expecting Surplus of 1 Million Barrels of Oil in 6 Years

The discovery of giant reserves in the pre-salt layer led Brazil to believe that ...

Advertising

Advertising in Brazzil Magazine We don’t sell popups, but we have several other formats.  ...

Minister Word to Brazilian Landless: Our Settlement Figures Are Indisputable

In a note issued Thursday, December 22, the Brazilian Landless Rural Workers’ Movement (MST) ...

Lula Is Back from Vacation and He’s About to Make Many People Unhappy

Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, returned to the Palácio do Planalto this ...