Karachi, 4 December: Oxford University Press (OUP) believes that book piracy poses a major threat to the book publishing industry and is hence actively involved in efforts to curb this menace in Pakistan.
As a part of its continuous Copyright Awareness programme, Oxford University Press (OUP) launched the video of the song ‘Lafz’ written, composed, and performed by the singer and social activist, Shehzad Roy. The song was launched at an Intellectual Property Training Workshop for judicial members organized by CLDP USA (Commercial Law Development Program), in collaboration with ACIF (Brands Protection Group) and CLIEP (Continuing Legal Education Institute of Pakistan).
The objective behind producing this song is to create awareness among the public about how book piracy adversely affects students and teachers, and deprives authors of their reward and motivation to write. Using evocative imagery and an engaging storyline, the song highlights that book piracy is a crime and destroys creativity. The song reinforces the idea that Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) must be respected because writers producing original and creative works increase our knowledge.
Book piracy constitutes a punishable offence under the Copyright Ordinance 1962 and the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. Such infringements of Intellectual Property Rights cause massive losses to the publishing industry, the authors, the Pakistan government, as well as the parents and students who are cheated into buying sub-standard pirated books.