When will Taiwan be able to rid itself of its "kingdom of piracy" label? Rampant piracy and counterfeiting not only harms foreign and domestic companies, it also hurts the nation's film and arts circles by suppressing artistic talent and creativity. If such practices go unchecked, Taiwanese culture will gradually be impoverished and artistic creativity will lose its dynamism and vitality. The government should direct its efforts toward banning piracy and counterfeiting.
Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (
The Ministry of Economic Affairs' Intellectual Property Office issued a report last month noting a rise in the number of piracy cases investigated last year (5,118), the number of people prosecuted (6,269) and the value of illegal goods seized (US$300 million). In 2000, there were 6,114 people prosecuted and over US$200 million in counterfeit goods seized. Investigated cases are really just the tip of the iceberg.
In light of the seriousness of these kinds of problems, the Ministry of the Interior last month established the nation's first "Intellectual Property Rights Protection Police Squad."
The squad -- under the Second Peace Preservation Police Corps (保二總隊) of the National Police Administration -- has a total of 220 officers deployed six branch offices across the nation. These officers are now responsible for combating piracy from upstream suppliers, midstream wholesalers and downstream vendors.
Such effort and determination from the government is certainly praiseworthy. But won't police investigative work be in vain if the judiciary repeatedly leans towards the defendants? No wonder the justice minister complained strongly about judges frequently handing out short sentences to defendants in piracy cases.
Counterfeiting and piracy are the same as stealing. In the past, the judiciary often handed down light punishment to thieves.
It is known that at least one inveterate thief has been hauled in front of judges more than 40 times. This case might well explain why the verdicts imposed thus far have failed deter further crimes.
There have also been reports that some career criminals have organized themselves. They contribute a part of their daily income to their behind-the-scene mentors.
These payments reportedly ensure the crooks will get help hiring lawyers and that they will be looked after if they are arrested, convicted and sent to jail. No wonder there is no end to crime in society and that the police force has long found itself at the end of its rope.
If courts fail to give stiffer punishments to repeat offenders, then the "white-collar" criminals involved in counterfeiting and piracy might follow suit and organize themselves.
Once criminal syndicates are deeply rooted, the police might find it impossible to eradicate them despite their all-out efforts.
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