Movie producers flex muscle

Filipino movie producers announced yesterday that they would boycott all theaters in shopping malls where pirated compact discs (CDs) and video compact discs (VCDs) are being sold.

Vic del Rosario, producer of Viva films, said that they decided on the boycott to force owners of shopping malls to take a more active stance in the fight against piracy in the entertainment industry.

Del Rosario told a hearing of the Senate committee on public information and mass media headed by Sen. Vicente Sotto III, that the boycott is being spearheaded by Viva, Star Cinema and Regal Films, which he described as "the big three" in Philippine movie production.

He added that he expects producers of foreign films to join the boycott of the theaters in malls where pirated products are being sold. "The association of motion pictures producers of America is taking a very strong stand against movie piracy," Del Rosario said.

He said that piracy is causing the entertainment industry losses amounting to about P5 billion, and has resulted in the unemployment of thousands dependent on movies for their livelihood. Earlier, Sotto estimated that the government is losing about P800 million a year in revenues from the piracy of CDs and VCDs.

Sotto expressed his full support for the boycott. He said that more than half of the marketing network of pirates would be crippled if shopping malls stop selling pirated discs.

Sotto also urged Filipinos to stop patronizing malls that are doing nothing in the campaign against piracy in the entertainment industry.

The Senate hearing yesterday was highlighted by the signing of a covenant among leaders of the entertainment industry and representatives of three shopping malls to fight piracy.

Those who signed the covenant were movie producers Experidion Laxa and Del Rosario, Jojo Remollo of ShoeMart, Rex Drilon of Virra Mall, and Cesar Jesena of Ayala Commercial Center. They all vowed to keep their malls free of pirated products.

Representatives of Tutuban shopping mall and Harrison Plaza refused to sign the covenant. Tutuban mall officials contended that they have no authority to prevent the sale of pirated products in leased areas, while the Harrison Plaza management said that law enforcement and not mall owners are to blame for the proliferation of pirated products.

Lualhati Buenafe, chief executive officer and chairwoman of the Video Regulatory Board said that mall owners have the authority to close down stalls selling pirated products.

"There is always a provision in lease contracts against the sale of prohibited products," Buenafe said. – Efren Danao