Pottermania has spawned a huge market for pirated books which are available at incredibly low prices at footpaths and traffic signals in Mumbai.
Initiate drive to prevent the sale of pirated copies of new Harry Potter bookThough Harry Potter’s magic is known to work against dark wizards, Indian bootleggers seem to be immune to its effects. Pottermania has spawned a huge market for pirated books which are available at incredibly low prices at footpaths and traffic signals in Mumbai.
“Within days of its release, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was available for Rs150 as compared to the original price of Rs795,” says Rupa Mehra who admits to have picked up a pirated copy in 2005.
However, those waiting for the bootlegged version of the last book in the series — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — will be disappointed. The publishers and distributors have launched an initiative in India to discourage the sale of pirated copies of the book which will hit stores next week.
UK-based publisher Bloomsbury and Penguin India, the distributor of the book here, have appointed legal consultancy firm ‘aca-law’ to work with the police to counter piracy for the new Potter book. Intellectual property investigators ‘IP-Boutique’ has also been pressed in service.
“Our teams are keeping a strict vigil,” says Akash Chittranshi, who heads ‘aca-law’. Investigators are also deploying technology like cameras and mobile phones to keep track of offenders. There is also a 24-hour anti-piracy hotline.
Chittranshi adds that criminal cases will be initiated against those organising and dealing in the piracy of The Deathly Hallows.
“Indian Copyright law is very stringent as far as enforcement is concerned. Any person found dealing in pirated copies of Harry Potter can be arrested and charged for infringement of copyright, which is punishable with a fine and imprisonment for up to 3 years,” he says.
In the last few years, UK-based Publishers’ Association and the Association of Publishers of India have been addressing the issue of piracy in India. The Harry
Potter drive is an extension of that initiative.
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