Buyers looking through pirated VCDs and DVDs in Ambassador Mall in South Jakarta on July 19, 2013. (kompas.com) 

Film producers have applauded the government for shutting down dozens of illegal film-sharing websites that have effectively reduced access to pirated films.

Film Producers Association (APROFI) chairwoman Sheila Timothy said on Wednesday that based on the association's analysis from August to November, there was a 3,000 percent drop in traffic to three of the most-visited websites and there was a 780 percent drop in the 22 blocked sites. The drop occurred after the Communications and Information Ministry blocked 22 illegal movie-sharing websites in August.

"These criminals can rake in billions of rupiah in profits each month from advertisements for gambling and pornography," she told thejakartapost.com.

Thus, the strategy of blocking illegal websites was aimed to eliminate any financial gain to be made from the commercialization of illegal content. The blocking also aimed to boost traffic to legal websites whose growth was hampered by the illegal sites.

One pirated movie can cost film producers up to Rp 4.3 billion, according to an estimate by APROFI.

The association has been working together with the ministry as well as the Creative Economy Agency in protecting and nurturing the growth of Indonesia'€™s creative industry, specifically in the area of film.

'€œWe want to create a conducive ecosystem in order for the film industry in the country to thrive,'€ Sheila said.

She urged for education in intellectual property rights as well as shutting down illegal websites, which she said could play an important role in the long term.

She argued that the lack of concrete action on online piracy by the past administration had helped the growth of the movie piracy business.

The Creative Economy Agency has created a special anti-piracy taskforce at the Creative Economy Agency to tackle issues in relation to piracy and intellectual property rights.

Ari Juliano Gema, deputy for intellectual property rights facilitation and regulation at the agency, said that the agency would continue to work with stakeholders and dedicate themselves to the pursuit of eradicating piracy.

'€œNo one should be allowed to continue to conduct piracy in Indonesia. We will remain alert and report any illegal film sites we find,'€ he said.

The ministry also shut down 22 illegal music-sharing websites recently as a follow up to a report lodged by the Recording Industry Association (ASIRI). The Indonesian Association of Artists, Singers, Composers and Recording Businessmen (PAPPRI) reported an estimated loss of up to Rp 4 trillion per year in 2013 from music piracy. (rin)

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