LOCALS are calling for better enforcement and public awareness when it comes to the implementation of copyright laws.

According to a recent website poll by The Brunei Times, as much as 78 per cent of locals believe that more steps should be taken to protect the copyright laws in Brunei.

Kim Chung Ae, 26, an educational facilitator with a private company, stated that copyright issues are a big problem in Brunei because originality is not rewarded.

Steps must be taken to ensure that the creativity or idea of a person's work should be protected, and stealing somebody else's idea is morally wrong, added Ae.

Joham, 22, a former web designer, said, "When it comes to the copyright issue, first and foremost as a Muslim I think it's wrong because we do not condone stealing. Secondly, when it comes to work, it just becomes a moral issue. If you're getting money from someone else's work, it's just not right."

Brunei is no stranger to pirated products. In fact, the sale of pirated CDs and DVDs is a competitive business; where one monger can sell a pirated movie for $4, there's another that sells it for half the price.

Despite being aware of the moral issue of piracy, many locals seem to support it. Fel, 22, a proof reader, states that she is all for piracy as long as the goods are sold at cheap prices. Another person, a 27-year-old education officer, said that locals buy pirated goods because they are used to it already.

It has also been observed that tourists that come to Brunei buy cheap DVDs in bulk. "If cheap DVDs are available, tourists will definitely buy them because they find it thrilling," said an employee at a leading travelling agency. "European LV bags are big in China; if a European went to China, they'll still look for it because they're cheap!"

Some locals however do not want Brunei to be known as the hub of pirated products. Hj Mohd Salleh , 68, stressed that consumers must not support piracy. He also urged others to consider the quality of products they want to get.

One government servant said that if he had to choose between an original DVD that costs $8 and and a pirated one that costs $2, he would opt for the original because he feels it has more value and quality in the long run.

It has been urged that enforcement of the copyright law and public awareness should be strongly implemented to protect an individual's right to their work.

A local blogger in his early 40s, an advocate for copyright laws, stated, "In Brunei we have no qualms about downloading copyrighted material because we dont see the moral responsibility as there have been no enforcement law." He added, "If we dont have copyrights, and we have products to sell, there is no law to protect our creative products".

He also suggested that companies such as Microsoft should set up offices in Brunei to monitor the local companies and pursue those selling pirated copies of their materials.

A civil servant in her early 50s believed that copyright laws should be enforced, and that protecting an individual's creation is important as they have worked very hard for it. She also stressed that local products should be patented and protected.

Others have called for harsher penalties, in addition to stronger enforcement and continued efforts to monitor such activities, as a way to overcome the piracy problem.

They also pointed out the role of broadcast and printed media in creating public awareness about the issue.

Seminars to promote better understanding of intellectual property rights are also important, as such conferences serve to enlighten and educate students and the public about the issue of piracy.

This view was supported by a local entrepreneur who believed copyright laws are a moral issue and that locals should be educated about them. Such issues should be taught and discussed in all schools, he added.

Piracy, said many locals, can erode the country's status from a place of natural beauty to one that sells cheap DVDs.

The Brunei Times