More than 50,000 counterfeit VCDs and other products were crushed in a public ceremony yesterday to signify the government's determination to eradicate commercial piracy and protect intellectual property rights.
The ceremony, presided over by Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Ruey-long (
The Ministry of Economic Affairs also invited members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from the de facto US and Japanese embassies in Taipei -- the American Institute in Taiwan and the Japanese Interchange Association -- as well as officials from relevant Taiwan government agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Public Prosecutors' Office of the Taiwan High Court, to witness the ceremony.
The crushed counterfeit goods, with a market value of NT$8.36 billion (US$242.32 million), were confiscated by Taipei, Shihlin and Panchiao prosecutors' offices and all people involved those cases have been convicted of commercial counterfeiting.
Chen said the move underscores the government's drive to eliminate commercial piracy and strengthen IPR protection.
In related news, The European Council of Commerce and Trade last week announced a decision to create an intellectual property rights committee. The trade group said in a statement that the purpose of the committee is to engage the government in discussion of IPR issues, provide information on development in the field and organize seminars to further strengthen IPR protection in Taiwan.
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