Book piracy in the country estimated at Rs.900 crore annually

Bangalore, July 31 (UNI) The organised book piracy in the country was estimated at around Rs.900 crore annually, causing huge financial loss to the publishers and the writers.

This was disclosed by Mr Balram Sadhwani, President of the Bangalore Booksellers and Publishers Association to newsmen here today while announcing the fourth annual Bangalore Book Festival.

He said the Federation of Booksellers and Publishers estimate that the total sale of books across the country was around Rs.9000 crore annually and ten per cent of it was contributed by pirate editions.

He said concerted efforts were being made by the Federation to ensure book buyers visit bookshops for their purchase rather than depending on pirated books, whose printing and paper quality was poor.

He said following the Central Government's intervention a number of high cost professional education books from abroad were available at about 25 per cent of the original cost helping students of engineering, medical and MBA. He said the spread of internet was also triggering higher sales as those who browse the net on books tend to buy their requirement after ascertaining the content and choice on the internet.

UNI