§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the British(a) film and (b) music industries of the distribution and sale of pirated material; and if he will make a statement. [90844]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe recent launch of the Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (AACP) highlighted figures estimating a loss of revenue in 1998 of:(a) £120 million for the UK video industry (British Video 26W Association research); and, (b) £10 million for the UK music industry (British Phonographic Industry/British Association of Record Dealers research), due to counterfeiting and piracy.
The Government are committed to the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. We welcome the formation of the AACP. My Department is working closely with colleagues in the FCO and DTI, to improve enforcement and to raise awareness of the value of intellectual property, such as through the Intellectual Property Rights Group of the Government's Creative Industries Task Force, as well as to encourage similar high standards in other countries, through trade negotiations.