Remedies

Copyright treaties and laws are meaningless, of course, if the procedures to find pirate activity do not work, or if the penalties for infringement are low. In order to deter and eliminate copyright theft, it simply must be more risky, embarrassing and expensive to engage in pirate activities than to obey the law.

The international community recognised this important principle in making the TRIPs Agreement part of the obligations that World Trade Organisation members must meet. TRIPs requires that enforcement procedures must be available to permit "effective action" against infringement, and that expeditious remedies be provided "to constitute a deterrent to further infringements."

IFPI and its national groups work closely with governments to improve the legal infrastructure for rights enforcement. IFPI promotes implementing legislation that conforms with the letter and the spirit of the TRIPs Agreement. IFPI is also involved in development of codes of conduct and legislation covering optical-media (CD-plant) manufacture.

IFPI is presently working with the European Parliament, EU member states and the European Commission to improve procedures and remedies against copyright theft throughout the European Union. IFPI has joined with five other copyright associations to promote improved levels of remedies and penalties, an EU-level agency to deal with copyright theft, effective measures to deal with optical-media piracy, and increased attention to intellectual property in discussions with applicants for EU membership.