Piracy finds cheap space on bookshelves

KOCHI: April 23 stands distinguished on calendars across the globe as the World Book and Copyright Day. Instituted to encourage young minds to acknowledge the world of words and as a tribute to authors, the day is reserved for world literature. The ‘Book Day’ is marked by book reading sessions, literature debates, storytelling, book fairs, seminars etc. However, not many people are aware or concerned with the other side of the day called ‘Copyright Day.’ Copyright infringement and Intellectual Property theft go unchecked as rampant piracy and illegitimate prints invade book shelves and make reading a ‘cheaper’ act. Literally. Though  piracy is rampant, the  Kerala Anti-Piracy Cell of the police has limitations to initiate action against copyright violators. According to Anti-Piracy Cell Deputy Superintendent S Rafeeq, they can take action against piracy only on the basis of complaints. “People of music and film industry file petitions against unauthorised duplication of their material on the internet as they suffer heavy losses due to piracy. However, in the case of books, we can crackdown on piracy only when the author, publisher or distributor files an official complaint citing details of the clandestine operations and this does not happen often,” says Rafeeq.Pirated books find many takers due to their low pricing. Inferior paper quality, illegible print and missing paragraphs are not spoilers as long as one can lay his hand on the latest paperback. While illegal copies make for brisk sales on footpaths, e-books take piracy to new heights altogether. Pirated downloadable versions further eat into book royalties and reduce fans of the tangible form. Free content is the need of the hour in the virtual space. However, book fairs and lending libraries in the city assert that the reading experience they proffer is any day less expensive than the pirated deal. Eloor Lending Library charges a nominal 10 per cent reading fee and guarantees original prints. “Readers opt for quality but the decreasing number of student readers is worrisome,” says K S Sabu, manager (Press Club Road branch), Eloor Lending Library. The man behind Blossom Book Fair Abdul Latif points at another area of concern. “As store owners, we are undisturbed by the sale of pirated books as it has steadily dwindled in the city in the past ten years. This is primarily because piracy has shifted to a new arena - medical books,” he said.With many readers opting to stand by original books, even if it makes them poorer by a few rupees, literature watchdogs can breathe easy but protectors of the law face fresh challenges to bring copyright violators to the ‘book.’