Where does one find the latest software, games, movies and music in Delhi? Not at a swanky south Delhi mall, but at a sprawling complex in Nehru Place. And one gets the stuff dirt cheap because they are, well, pirated.

But the piracy that goes on at the wholesale IT mandi in south Delhi – where computers and laptops are sold in a manner vendors sell vegetables – is increasingly drawing the attention of anti-piracy authorities in the US. The office of the United States Trade Representative has listed Nehru Place in the Capital among 30 notorious IT markets of the world dealing in goods and services that infringe on intellectual property rights (IPR).

It is named after Jawaharlal Nehru but Nehru Place in south Delhi has the dubious distinction of being a hub for pirated IT goods.
The latest review of notorious markets identifies both the ‘internet’ and ‘physical marketplaces’ that have been the subject of enforcement action connected with counterfeiting and piracy, or that may merit further investigation for possible IPR infringements. Markets located in China and East European countries dominate the list. China’s internet site Taobao also figures on the list.

“Nehru Place is reportedly one of the many markets in major cities throughout India that are known for dealing in large volumes of pirated software, pirated optical media containing movies and music, and counterfeit goods,” according to the report posted on the website of the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s office. Besides Nehru Place, an earlier report released in February had mentioned Palika Bazaar in New Delhi; Richie Street and Burma Bazaar in Chennai; Manish Market, Heera Panna, Lamington Road and the Fort District in Mumbai; and Chandni Chowk in Kolkata on the list. These locations are particularly well-known for the high volume of pirated software, DVDs and CDs on sale.

Aware that they are under watch, shops at Nehru Place selling pirated versions of latest games, software and movies have become more discreet in the recent past. In the past, open stalls outside licenced shops peddled the pirated stuff. But the pirated wares are no longer laid out in the open, thanks to government crackdowns and increasing international pressure.

Young boys carrying catalogues of the pirated goods roam the marketplace, eyeing potential customers. “All these DVDs cost between Rs 100 and Rs 500,” a boy tells a visitor. If the visitor agrees to make a purchase, he is led to basement shops hidden away from the public eye.

Latest Adobe and Quark suites – pirated of course – and computer games are all available for a steal. A shopkeeper offered to arrange dozens of CDs of each software suite. “In less than 12 hours, we can arrange hundreds of CDs of each software, game or movie. Traders from neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab place bulk orders with us,” he said.

Young visitors swarming the place feel piracy isn’t that bad after all. “At the end of the day, we get to buy stuff at prices we can afford,” Rohan, an engineering student, said. Shopkeepers at the market are aware of the copyright offences they commit when they sell pirated stuff. But it is overlooked in the face of the roaring business it has given them – even in the recession.

But Uncle Sam is determined to tighten the anti-piracy screw. The notorious markets highlighted in the latest review negatively impact legitimate businesses and industries of all sizes that rely on intellectual property to protect their goods and services, US trade representative Ron Kirk was quoted as saying.

“We hope that this review will continue to yield the kind of concrete action from the highlighted markets that led to the removal of several markets from the list this year,” he said. Kirk has been building pressure on India to check piracy and tighten laws further to protect intellectual property rights.

Senior Indian officials are, however, of the view that the country’s laws have been amended and the IPR regime compares favourably with those prevailing in other countries.

Source:http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/us-lists-nehru-place-among-worlds-most-crooked-it-markets/1/21119.html