Today’s scheduled government crackdown on illegally copied video compact discs may not take place, which would allow vendors to continue selling their $2 to $3 copies of foreign-produced movies, Ministry of Culture official Sok Sokun said Tuesday.
Instead, vendors will again be asked to buy “visa stamps” from district officials, which gives vendors the license to sell the VCDs, Sok Sokun said. In the past, the stamps have cost vendors 50 riel to 100 riel (about $0.01 to $0.02) per disc.
District officials could also choose to fine vendors or confiscate those VCDs which do not have visa stamps, Sok Sokun said. “The stamps just give a time limit allowing vendors to sell their product,” he said.
One of the requirements for joining the World Trade Organization—which Cambodian officials have said they hope to do before the end of the year—is creating and enforcing copyright laws that meet international standards.
Beginning Jan 1, VCD vendors were required to buy three-month stamps. The visa plan was designed to help the sales of locally produced videos and discourage the smuggling and illegal copying of videos. At the end of three months, vendors would not be allowed to sell the pirated VCDs, officials declared at the time.
But on April 1, ministry officials delayed for one month the scheduled confiscation of illegal copies from markets and stores, saying the ministry was too busy preparing for Cultural Day, which took place April 3.
Vendors at Phsar Tuol Tumpong did not seem worried Tuesday. “The last time they came to close us, we just gave them some money,” shop owner Chab Sophoan said.
Vendor Hong Khan Lim said he would not be surprised if police or district officials asked him for more money in the next few days. “Same as before,” he said. “Maybe there will be a new sticker and a delay again.”
A similar crackdown was promised in February 2001, but was delayed after vendors protested.
