By MARAIA VULA
The Fiji Performing Rights Association has called for mechanisms to be put in place to survey the economic contribution of copyright-based industries in our country.
Association chairman, Eremasi Tamanisau, feels there is big potential in the industry and therefore needs to be confirmed through a survey.
“This is so that Government can make the appropriate decision so that the country focuses on this important sector of the economy,” he said.
Mr Tamanisau said such surveys have been conducted in over 40 countries including Australia, Jamaica and USA.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation industries based on copyright and related rights are believed to have considerable impact on the national economies.
However, measuring their relevant contribution is only a recent trend.
Mr Tamanisau said Fiji Bureau of Statistics data indicated Fiji’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 was $5.243 billion.
“So even if assume a low figure of four per cent, the estimate for the economic contribution of copyright-based industries in Fiji was $209.7 million,” he said.
Loss suffered annually
Mr Tamanisau said Government suffers a loss of $13 million in taxes annually in DVD piracy.
Nevertheless, the association is happy with Government’s support towards music composers.
“Firstly, there was the amendment of the Copyright Decree 2009. This shifted the onus of proving ownership of copyright work from the composer to the infringer,” he said.
“Also Government established the Fiji Intellectual Property Office three years ago.”