Organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)in cooperation with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Abuja, October 15 to 17, 1996
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL REMEDIES IN COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
Document prepared by Mr. Pravin Anand, Anand and Anand, Advocates, New Delhi
1. INTRODUCTION:
The converging markets of information technology, media/entertainment and telecommunications are expected to become the world's single largest industry. These copyright industries may have moved center-stage to dominate the economics of nations but their existence is threatened by piracy and counterfeiting which have now reached epidemic proportions.
Thus, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) estimates worldwide annual loss to its members to the tune of US Dollars 15.2 billion. According to the International Film Producing Industry (IFPI), in their India Market Report for the year 1996, they estimate a total music market in India of 275 million dollars selling some 300 million legitimate cassettes annually. Piracy figures, although they fell from early 1990s from a staggering 95% to 30% in the year 1995 yet India was considered the world's third largest pirate market in volume and the sixth in value. The figures for the film industry and the book publishing industry are of similar magnitude.
This Paper will take a brief look at some of the recent developments in the law relating to copyright remedies and thereafter place detailed emphasis on the practical aspects of these remedies.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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