AVPA RESEARCH

In December 2000, a research team was formed to assess the piracy situation in Singapore. Over the past two years this team has collected data and information through methods such as trap purchases, industry interviews and the commissioning of both private investigators and the market research. Findings include:

  • The piracy situation in Singapore is getting worse
  • Piracy is now threatening to completely eliminate original license holders in Singapore
  • The legal structure in Singapore is becoming increasingly exploited by video pirates
  • Singapore is becoming known in piracy circles as the place to conduct their illegal business
  • The growth of Singapore’s original Japanese video and film industry has come to a virtual standstill 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

  • 71% of consumers are unaware that a video product with a censor-board sticker does not equate an original copy
  • The Film and Publication Department(FPD) issues a censor-board sticker to endorse censored videos, but no check is made for original or pirated version
  • Of the 300 video stores in Singapore, almost all of them carries pirated Japanese animation and Drama VCDs
  • Most people caught in pirated video raids are “Scapegoats” or “Dua Bei Gong” – paid by the real pirate to face the penalties if caught

 

FINDINGS

AVPAS research in 2002 revealed that there is a total of:

  • 355 Pirated Japanese Drama VCD titles(108 sets of same titles but different packaging)
  • 209 Pirated Japanese Anime VCD titles
  • 304 Pirated Japanese Anime DVD titles

On an average, a typical video shop will display:

  • 334 sets of Japanese Drama VCDs
  • 260 sets of Japanese Anime VCDs
  • 150 sets of Japanese Anime DVDs

 

IMPACTS ON THE INDUSTRY

IRAS

  • 10% withholding tax is imposed on video licenses
  • Video pirates don't pay these taxes
  • 760 titles of pirated Japanese video titles (304 Animation + 247 Drama)
  • Estimated loss in tax for IRAS for withholding tax is S$1.7 million

Singapore Film Industry

  • Government currently trying to promote the film industry in Singapore
  • Video piracy nearly crippled the film industry in Hong Kong, and it can most certainly have the same effect in Singapore

 

REASONS WHY THIS EXISTS

  • Lack of communication between the content holders and the Singapore law-enforcement agencies
  • The misguiding impression that the censor-board stickers give the public, that the video is original.
  • Total cost of legal procedures
  • Loopholes that are exploited by video pirates in Singapore
  • Public's low awareness level in identifying pirated products

 

WHY YOU SHOULD HELP

Video piracy interferes with the opportunities of legitimate video store owners and deprives business owners, film makers and legitimate distributors and governments of sales, business and tax revenues they would have received from legitimate operators.

It is not just the higher end of the retail chain which is missing out. Consumers are unknowingly left shortchanged when they buy pirated video products. There is little difference in price between original and pirated copies, so if the consumer buys pirated copies they are purchasing a poorer quality product with less choices in digital options(language, subtitles and background chapters) ~ basically the consumer is receiving less value for money.The rampant video piracy threatens to compromise Singapore’s positions both as a multi-media hub and a knowledge-based economy. 

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ORIGINAL TITLES

Always look for the following on any video product:

  • Copyright notice
  • Name of local licensee
  • Name of licensor(optional)

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