2006-01-30

Art Industry: Save your cultural identity against piracy!

What is the value of the idea that makes you dream...that makes you laugh...that makes you cry? To have an idea...that makes you believe in ones idea...fighting for it...What is it worth to live for an idea? Ones ideas...help others to have new ideas... What is the value of the liberty to take decision? A societys value is made by their ideas... what would maintain if they got stolen?

This is the main slogan of the new educational campaign Save your countrys culture against piracy promoted by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, and supported by the Spanish governments subsidy of 1 Mio. Euro.

More than 30% of all piracy activities within the European Union take place in Spain. This does not only result from the problem by the easy access of free downloads in the Internet, but also from the barely controlled black market sales of music CDs (for 2 available) and film DVDs (for 6 available) in the streets, restaurants and bars at all parts of the country. The piracy problem is not only facing the production of pirated goods but also the question of consumers demand.

And the consumers tend to accept the use of the more economic pirated copies, being convinced not to commit any crime and being excused by the argument everybody is doing it! The aim of the new anti-piracy campaign is to set a trend and encourage people to act consciously and sensitive in the use of cultural products. There are blinking buttons, animated logos, posters and mpeg-spots to be downloaded from the website www.mcu.es and to be forwarded to friends and clients.

Written by Maike Bosselmann, correspondent, Spain, January 30, 2006