DAMMAM, 15 October 2003 — Pirated CDs are being sold openly on the pavements of downtown Dammam, with soft porn openly available behind the popular Seiko market.
The Ministry of Culture and Information in cooperation with other authorities cracked down on pirated CDs and videos in Alkhobar last year and seized pirated CDs and videos worth millions of riyals.
A few video stores were also shut down and their license canceled. The crackdown virtually wiped out the pirated CD businesses in Alkhobar. Ministry officials subsequently monitored the sites closely to prevent the market from springing up again.
However, the dealers simply moved their operation elsewhere. A visit by Arab News to the market in Dammam revealed that pirated CDs are being sold for SR5 to SR7 each. The main focus of traders is on Hollywood and Bollywood films as well as computer games.
When asked how it was possible to keep the business going when the ministry was cracking down on the trade, one dealer said: “We keep everyone happy.”
Once the dealer sees that the buyer’s interest is in Western movies, he opens up. “Would you like sexy movies?” is the next question.
The dealers admit that they do not have much time until the authorities crack down on them again. “We’ll probably have to close down our operation soon. Maybe we have a month or so, but by that time we’ll have made sufficient profit,” an Indian dealer said.
A CD does not cost the dealer more than SR2 including the compact disc and copying cost.
Meanwhile, video stores have also started selling and renting pirated videos again despite a warning from the Ministry of Culture and Information. Store owners say that it is very difficult to curb the trend unless the rates for master prints from the distributors are reduced.
