Years of neglecting copyrights may soon cost the budget a fortune

After joining the European Union, the state budget will probably have to pay billions of zlotys to producers for losses they incurred due the sale of pirated products in Poland. The pirated goods include computer programs, films, as well as watches and luxurious perfumes. Brussels-based law offices are said to be preparing their law suits on behalf of their clients, western corporations. The losses generated through the sale of illegal copies of products are estimated to have reached almost $500 million. As much as 91% of computer games used in Poland are pirated. Every year, 200 million illegal CD's infringing copyrights, are produced for use in the country, while the number of those smuggled to the East is even larger. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) A.Z. This Week in Warsaw Business Journal Healthcare providers gamble on needed reforms VCP eyes chemical sector HSBC's pitch Polkomtel's advisors shortlisted Orlen story: A man with a vision