Speaking at the first International IP Enforcement Summit in London yesterday, he said that a variety of interventions are needed to tackle piracy, ranging from orthodox policing, court action and sentencing to ‘more subtle forms of persuasion’.
While legislation is already in place in the UK to allow law enforcement agencies to obtain search warrants and seize counterfeit goods, Cable said that payment service providers and advertisers need to boycott ‘dodgy websites’.
He added that attractive and viable alternatives need to be developed to encourage people to see the merit in using legal routes. ‘It isn’t just about law enforcement, it’s about attitudes. There have been surveys across Europe showing that one in 10 Europeans actively infringes on intellectual property rights and doesn’t see a problem with it. One in three regards this as a victimless crime,’ he said.
He went on to illustrate the problem of illegal downloading and IP theft among young people, explaining that many 16 to 24 year olds now regard piracy ‘as part of their culture’.
‘There is a great need to educate young people. Industry needs a more sophisticated approach that isn’t just lecturing people but that thinks through the difficulties it has in reaching out to young people who don’t have an instinctive aversion to IP theft. This is wrapped up in the development of alternatives which guide people to avoid illegal channels.’
Cable acknowledged that the UK music industry has made strides in developing ways to help people access and download legal content, to encourage them away from piracy. But he added: ‘I think we have to recognise that this is not just a British problem, it’s an international problem.
‘Cross-border leakages are now enormous, and there is recognition of the potential losses as a result of cross-border piracy.’
He also pointed to UK research that estimated every one percent increase in intellectual property crime costs the economy one percent of GDP – or £1.7bn. On the other hand, around 2.5 million are employed in the IP area, accounting for eight percent of the labour force.
While legislation is already in place in the UK to allow law enforcement agencies to obtain search warrants and seize counterfeit goods, Cable said that payment service providers and advertisers need to boycott ‘dodgy websites’.
He added that attractive and viable alternatives need to be developed to encourage people to see the merit in using legal routes. ‘It isn’t just about law enforcement, it’s about attitudes. There have been surveys across Europe showing that one in 10 Europeans actively infringes on intellectual property rights and doesn’t see a problem with it. One in three regards this as a victimless crime,’ he said.
He went on to illustrate the problem of illegal downloading and IP theft among young people, explaining that many 16 to 24 year olds now regard piracy ‘as part of their culture’.
‘There is a great need to educate young people. Industry needs a more sophisticated approach that isn’t just lecturing people but that thinks through the difficulties it has in reaching out to young people who don’t have an instinctive aversion to IP theft. This is wrapped up in the development of alternatives which guide people to avoid illegal channels.’
Cable acknowledged that the UK music industry has made strides in developing ways to help people access and download legal content, to encourage them away from piracy. But he added: ‘I think we have to recognise that this is not just a British problem, it’s an international problem.
‘Cross-border leakages are now enormous, and there is recognition of the potential losses as a result of cross-border piracy.’
He also pointed to UK research that estimated every one percent increase in intellectual property crime costs the economy one percent of GDP – or £1.7bn. On the other hand, around 2.5 million are employed in the IP area, accounting for eight percent of the labour force.
