GOVERNMENT ACTION
But despite the high-profile incidents, the government has been attempting to change its image as an abuser of copyrights and a manufacturer and exporter of counterfeit goods.
This year, the government has adopted a get-tough stance, especially since the US has been threatening to put Taiwan on its "Special 301" watchlist.
"To a great extent, the country's intellectual property initiatives have been driven by the pressure from the Special 301," said Yen Da-ho (
"It has been our consistent policy to combat counterfeit goods as it relates a great deal to our relations with the US," Yen said.
But Yen acknowledges that enforcement efforts are not what they could be, due to personnel shortages and the limited skills of law enforcement agencies.
Chang, the Taipei prosecutor, also noted that many law enforcement agencies lack people who are well versed in technology as it relates to the law.
"Few agents have an adequate grasp of technology to tackle counterfeit cases," Chang said. "We do have some brilliant technology experts, but you know, most of them believe in a free cyberspace and just don't care about what the law says."
According to an April 19 report from IFPI, worldwide record sales in 2000 fell by 1.3 percent in value, and units sold fell by 1.2 percent. Jay Berman, the group's chairman and CEO, blamed the proliferation of MP3 music and the "damage being done by unauthorized CD-R copying in some major markets."
Berman also waved his finger at Taiwan, China and Philippines, saying those were markets where piracy is rampant.
But Wu Tsu-tsu (吳楚楚), chairman of the Taiwan chapter of Music Copyrights Intermediary Society, said that compared to other countries, Taiwan's laws are relatively harsh when it comes to punishment for copyright violations
And it's not just up to police to crack down on the problem, as the music industry has also shown a lack of resolve in combatting piracy, Wu said.
"There are many ways that the industry could kill piracy," Wu said. "But I think at the end of the day it's still up to how strong a determination the record companies have."
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