In a unique event the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) is bringing together anti-piracy associations from around the world to highlight the international dimensions of audiovisual piracy and to explore how the associations and their members can work together to step up the fight against audiovisual piracy. Taking part are representatives from anti-piracy associations covering the Far East, Latin America, the Middle East, the Nordic region and Europe.
The event takes place in the RAI Holland Restaurant from 5pm on Saturday September 14th.
Recognising that piracy is an activity which does not respect geographical boundaries and often has links to international criminal networks this AAPA-sponsored event will explore how more can be done to support cross-border enforcement action through the sharing of knowledge and information, as well as working collaboratively on cases. Card-sharing is one of the most common examples of piracy which moves seamlessly across borders, with card sharing servers hopping from one legal jurisdiction to another to avoid closure. Emerging forms of piracy which make use of IPTV pose another international threat to legitimate businesses. Through this event AAPA’s goal is to facilitate an international approach to anti-piracy action – closing the borders pirates ignore through global co-operation.
In an interview with Broadband TV News Sheila Cassells, executive director of AAPA, said that the genesis of the event lay in a shared ambition to enhance the effectiveness of audiovisual anti-piracy activities and to leverage the work of the regionally-focussed associations.
“Regional knowledge and information is a vital asset in fighting piracy. It is also valuable in other regions which may be experiencing similar piracy attacks; sometimes undertaken by the same perpetrators. There is much we can learn from each other. We want to understand what the main current and emerging threats in each region are and whether there are new anti-piracy measures which could be used. We will also be more successful if we can minimise the number of safe harbours for pirates through greater international consistency of the legal basis on which enforcement takes place and through supporting collectively the work of enforcement agencies such as Interpol. All of our members have a wealth of experience in fighting piracy and we want to explore how this can be shared in the common cause.”
The event is seen by AAPA a first step towards creating a network of the regionally-based anti-piracy associations which would allow for greater flows of information and appropriate collaboration. The creation of such a network will send clear signals to pirates that anti-piracy activities will be carried out seamlessly across borders. The network is not intended to replace the existing associations but to build upon their expertise.