(a) whether the news relating to the sale of pirated text books had been published in the newspapers last year and lakhs of pirated text books have been seized in the raids conducted recently;
(b) If so, the reasons as to why the incidents of sale of pirated text books are still going on in the open market; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to completely check the said activity?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI M. A. A. FATMI)
(a) and (b) : Piracy of copyright material including of text
books is a problem that all copyright industries including the
publishing industry face. The police departments under the State
Government conduct frequent anti-piracy activities including raid
and seizure operations to curb such activities. Wide publicity
through newspaper reports and press releases is given to such
enforcement activities to deter potential pirates. For such anti-
piracy activities, many States have also created anti-piracy cells
in their respective Police Departments or have entrusted such
activities to the Economic Offences Wings of the Department.
Earnest attempts are being made to restrict this criminal activity
to the minimum. This is an on-going activity which would bear
fruit through sustained pressure on piracy.
(c): There are adequate provisions in the Copyright Act, 1957,
providing for civil and criminal remedies against such violations.
However, it is for the affected right holders to move the
machinery for appropriate relief.