DAMMAM, 25 December — The Eid holidays proved a boon for those dealing in pirated CDs and videos, largely because the bodies responsible for curbing such illegal trade were themselves busy celebrating.
According to a rough estimate, more than 10,000 pirated CDs changed hands in the Eastern Province alone during the Eid holidays. At the same time, video libraries in Dammam and Alkhobar rented out more than 25,000 pirated video films.
A recent crackdown on the trade of pirated CDs and video cassettes slowed down the trade, but could not wipe out the illegal sales entirely — which have resulted in millions of riyals of losses to software companies and film producers.
The Ministry of Information came down heavily on the video libraries in the Eastern Province recently. As a result, the license of one library was canceled and many others faced heavy fines. Intensive raids and penalties forced many pirated CD traders at various locations in Alkhobar to close down their shops.
The trade had prospered at Shula market, but it shifted to the nearby Gulf Center after Shula market was destroyed by fire nearly two years ago. In two years, the Gulf Center became a hub of this illicit trade and eventually the management of the center asked the dealers to vacate their shops. The result was that the business scattered all over Alkhobar.
The recent crackdown came as yet another jolt and many business operators of pirated CDs went underground. At one point, it appeared that the business would die a slow death. The Eid holidays, however, proved wrong such speculation, as the business has again emerged in the vicinity of the Gulf Center.
The modus operandi, however, is different. This time there were no showrooms and no displays of CDs. Instead, the agents hovered around the parking lot of the Gulf Center looking for prospective buyers. CDs were stored in the boot of the cars conveniently parked and once a price was settled, the pirated CDs were handed over to the buyers.
One such agent admitted to this reporter that the business was slowing down and it was becoming more dangerous every day. But he admitted that they operated freely during the Eid, as there was no fear of raids. He also claimed that he earned about SR3,000 in commission in the eight days of the holiday.
"The CD manufacturers have made a fortune," he said.
Officials at the Ministry of Information agree that such clandestine operations are difficult to check. But they are determined to put an end to the business.
The video film libraries have a similar story. Recent raids and the subsequent fines had slowed down the business of pirated video films, but did not completely finish it. The Eid holidays, however, allowed them to rent out and sell pirated cassettes freely without fear of raids or other hindrances.
The owner of a video film library in the Thuqba area said that the sale of pirated videos can never be quashed. No one will buy a master print for SR25, he said, adding that if the authorities were serious about ending pirated sales then they have to finish the monopoly of film distributors and regulate their prices. There are only three video film distributors all over the Kingdom and they virtually dictate their terms of sale, he added.
Another video library owner in Alkhobar admitted that during the Eid holidays it compensated for the losses it incurred after the recent crackdown by the Ministry of Information. He said that business will slow again after Eid holidays — with the boom time returning only during the Eid Al-Adha holidays.
