The Bookseller.com

9th January 2009

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India accused over piracy delays

01.04.08

Police in India have seized more than 1,000 illegal copies of medical books, after a complaint from the UK Publishers Association. Despite the success, prominent Indian anti-piracy lawyer Akash Chittranshi has called on the Indian government to speed up its anti-piracy cases.

Mumbai police raided Chamunda Copiers on 27th March 2008, finding 1,048 hard bound coloured photocopies of medical books, including books published by Elsevier, Wolters Kluwer, McGraw-Hill, Blackwell Science, Springer, Hodder Arnold, and Pearson Education. They also found 99 originals used to make copies, and three large photocopiers.

Six people, including co-owner Suresh Patel, were arrested. A second co-owner absconded and has been listed as wanted in India. The business was offering photocopies of more than 160 medical publications of PA member companies. It was supplying the pirated editions to customers in a number of Indian states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal and Assam.

Chittranshi, from the Indian law firm aca-law, questioned the effectiveness of the Indian government's attempts to curb the ongoing piracy in the region: "Cases remain pending in courts endlessly and the accused get the benefit of delay. This encourages people to repeat the offence of piracy as they make huge profits." Chittranshi said that the case against Chamunda Copiers was the second case of piracy against this business. He added:"[The] Indian government urgently needs to address the issue of providing early conclusion of anti piracy cases across all industries."

The six individuals arrested have been remanded to police custody until 4th April 2008.

International india publishers association