AMMAN — The National Library Department (NLD) will intensify its campaign to reinforce the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) during Ramadan, when sales of pirated CDs and DVDs usually increase, NLD Director General Mohammad Abbadi said Tuesday.

Sales of pirated movies and games increase by about 30 per cent during Ramadan compared to the rest of the year, therefore the NLD steps up its inspections of stores and street vendors selling pirated items, Abbadi told The Jordan Times.

The inspection raids will be conducted after the iftar meal, when Muslims break their day-long fast, he said.

The campaign will mainly focus on Amman, Zarqa, Irbid and Aqaba, where the majority of vendors and stores are found, according to Abbadi, who added that the rest of the governorates will also be covered by the raids.

He noted that more than 250 cases of IPR violations were referred to court during the first six months of this year. The majority of these cases involved sales of pirated CDs and DVDs, the NLD director said.

The department also confiscated more than 60,000 pirated items during the first half of this year, Abbadi added.

The official stressed that the government loses about JD5 million annually in revenues, as traders of pirated items do not pay taxes or fees.

He also warned that those who buy pirated CDs and DVDs may end up exposing their devices to viruses.

The volume of commerce in pirated software, games, DVDs and books amounts to about JD20 million annually.

The Jordanian Copyright Law stipulates that it is a crime to download software, music or movies that are protected under the legislation.

Offenders face a prison sentence of between three months and three years and a fine ranging from JD1,000 to JD6,000.