Bootlegged movies and CDs
What the people say about
By Christopher Yaw
Stabroek News
July 5, 2004
Last week there were advertisements for the sale of a number of cinemas, which the owner says were forced out of business by the advent of bootlegged movies on television and at video clubs and cheap DVDs. We asked members of the public for their opinion on bootlegged movies and CDs and what can be done about it.
Charlayne St. Hill, Housewife: No, I do not purchase bootleg movies or CDs. Of course it would affect legitimate businessmen a lot because they would be spending more to get the original stuff.
In addition when you buy something that is not an original copy it would not last you as long as it should.
Rayonne Pile, Sales Manager:I would purchase bootleg movies and CDs because it is yours and something you could watch at any time. And whether a product is bootlegged or original if someone likes it they are going to buy it.
It would have a negative effect on the businessman who is trying to sell legitimate copies because it is likely that the people selling the bootlegs are going to sell more.
Kishin Manglani, Pastor: I am totally against the idea of people selling bootleg movies and CDs. I do not think it is wise to [sell bootlegs], it is going to affect the younger generation.
If we in Guyana are trying to stop crime and all these things people should desist from dealing with these things. Since what the younger people see will corrupt their minds and way of thinking.
I think we should ban those things [bootlegged movies and CDs] because there are other ways of having entertainment.
Sherry Halley, Teacher: I do not really get time to watch movies or listen to music, but my husband buys CDs for his sound system.
Well, people would normally go for the businesses that are burning CDs, simply because they are cheaper.
To stop the practice of selling cheap CDs the authorities would need to clamp down on the people who are pirating. They need to check with the people who are selling it [bootlegs] to people.
Carl Cato, Taxi Driver: Yes, I would purchase bootleg music because the businessmen must cater for the poor ones; originals are hard to get and they are expensive. I do not see how the pirating of CDs could be stopped right now.
Unless the people who sell or want to sell drop the price for originals and the people who cannot afford it are given a better offer, since right now it is about $2000-$3000 for an original CD.
Vishal Ramsahai, Student:Yes, I watch bootleg movies and purchase bootleg music, because it's cheaper than the original. Even though they would not last as long they are affordable to poor people.
In order to stop such practices businessmen would have to drop the price for original copies and also if you could get copyright laws in Guyana people would be more likely to buy the original copies.
Avinash Ramsarran, Student: Yes, I watch bootleg movies and purchase bootleg music because it is more affordable for me and also access to these copies is easier. You do not have to walk all around or go very far to buy the fake CDs. Also I can burn copies and keep them personally. The bootleg copies, other than being cheap and accessible, are everywhere.
Copyright law should be enforced in Guyana and the authorities should speak to the record bar owners to have them drop their prices for originals.
Vinai Chand, Student:Yes, I purchase bootleg music and watch the movies because they are cheap. Also I download music from the Internet and burn CDs, which I sell for my own little pocket piece.
To stop the distribution of bootleg music the authorities would have to introduce Copyright laws, which cannot happen now because the situation is way out of hand. In addition they should sell originals cheaper, I believe the business owners put a lot more on the price of the CDs when they get here.
Shivaughn Lachish, Performing Artiste: I am a singer and we [artistes] really need support because if you do a CD and call a price for it, people are reluctant because they can get it cheaper.
My band spent over $500,000 to go to Trinidad & Tobago to make a CD. We at first tried selling it for $2000 but because of poor sales cut the price to $1000 and still we are getting a hard time because people can get three CDs for $1000. These practices are hampering the growth of the local artistes.
Nuddine Evans, Student: Yes, I purchase bootlegged CDs and watch the bootleg movies because they are there and easily available for me. The original stuff is more costly and people want things, which are less costly though they do not last as long and may not be of the best quality.
They should drop the price of originals to a price that would reach people's pockets. If the prices for these things were lowered I would buy original copies.