Music piracy is an ongoing problem in the Middle East and has increased in the major markets, namely Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. According to a recent report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), cassette piracy is still the main format in most markets, although CD-ROM now accounts for most of the pirate product in Israel.
Pirated products captured 50 percent of the Egyptian music market and 25-49 percent of markets in Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia in 2001. Replicated CD’s and cassettes captured 10-24 percent of markets in Bahrain, Oman and Qatar and under 10 percent in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the same period.
According to the report, connections have been discovered between organized South American pirates and Middle Eastern terrorists groups. Discs carrying extremist propaganda have been found in Argentina, Mauritius, Pakistan and Paraguay that come from the same source as much of the illegally-produced music in these regions.
IFPI is the organization representing the international recording industry. It comprises a membership of 1,400 record producers and distributors in 76 countries. It also has national groups in 46 countries. IFPI’s international Secretariat is based in London and is linked to regional offices in Brussels, Hong Kong, Miami and Moscow. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
