Brazilian Ministers Moro and Osmar Terra Sign Anti-Piracy Protocol of Intent

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Sérgio Moro, and the Minister of Citizenship, Osmar Terra, signed a protocol of intent on Wednesday, August 21st, to strengthen measures to counter piracy and crimes against intellectual property.

The document provides for the enhancement of actions by the National Council to Fight Piracy (CNCP). It is valid for two years but may be extended.

“Piracy today is not just a matter of someone downloading something [from the internet]. It is more sophisticated and involves bringing in the goods, placing them [in circulation]. It must be countered further”, assessed the National Consumer Secretary and president of CNCP, Luciano Timm.

One of the council’s directives is the tightening of inspections. According to the secretary, the body’s activities show that piracy is part of organized crime and that citizens are the most aggrieved.

“Piracy is perceived in Brazil as something that is OK,  and it is not. We want to instruct Brazilian consumers on what they are buying because they may be feeding the same organized crime that later will turn against them,” said Timm.

Legislation

According to the secretary, the CNCP has initiated studies to change the anti-piracy legislation. The goal is to toughen penalties for those who commit this type of crime.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) surveys show that, in addition to contributing to piracy, Brazil is also one of the major victims of this type of crime, ahead of countries such as Holland, according to Timm.

Reducing piracy rates in international rankings is one of the goals of the agreement between the two portfolios.