Intellectual Property Rights ... Not in Bangalore

Bangalore is the de-facto software capital of India.A city which is better identified for its geeks.
A closer look paints a very different picture. Virtually living out of the $20 Billion or so per annum software export we cant help but associate it with respect for Intellectual Property Rights(IPR).This week we start from the entainment segment.
The streets are strewn with sundry vendors selling pirated DVDs of the latest Hollywood and Indian Movies.And they sell with impunity.This is how it works: These seemingly small "folding
table" DVD vendors are actually the front ends of a larger network.The city is divided into small territories, controlled by a larger shark.These vendors are completely shielded by the shark from the police.Needless to say the police apparatus is well oiled by these sharks.If at all there is a raid the police is allowed to take the stock from these small vendors. The whole stock is retreived from the police and returned by the shark back to the vendors along with the fine, if at all charged !!! And these sharks control most of the "folding table" shops in their area.So it is a win win situation for all.And everything happens under the very nose of the guardians of the social fabric that is the POLICE !!!