In spite of the law, online piracy and transshipments of counterfeit medications abound. The Finns want to finish off the fraudsters but what are the authorities doing about it?

In Finland, illegal downloading is still very common, with 52 percent of the 15 to 25 age group admitting that they have downloaded films from the Internet, and with 45 percent saying they've copied television programs. The assumption is that they've all acquired the material from an illegal source.

There is also a place called Pirate Cinema where they show (you guessed it) films downloaded from the Internet – for free. Recently, about 20 young people watched a film shown through a projection system that included a laptop computer and video projector. Popcorn and drinks on the side completed the movie experience.

Meanwhile, in the world of counterfeit transshipments, according to the International Edition of the Finnish newspaper, Helsingin Santomat, Finnish Customs recently seized a consignment of fake anti-impotence pills and diet drugs. It seems counterfeit versions of patented medicines have been making a pit stop in Finland on their way to their global destinations. And it's not just pharmaceuticals either. Last year, Finnish Customs also seized 32.6 million illegal cigarettes, 6,501 liters of alcohol, as well as sundry other counterfeits.

What's happening? In the case of illegal downloading, a new law on copyrights, which came into effect early this year, has done little to reduce it. Though the law is well known and has, according to Antti Kotilainen, Executive Director of the Anti-Piracy Centre of Finland, stopped a few (out of Finland's 150,000 known users of peer-to-peer networks) from illegally downloading from file sharing networks, it has barely caused a ripple in users' attitudes.

According to Education and Culture Minister Jukka Liedes, the law permits one to copy music for personal use but not to bypass copy protection for this purpose. But while breaking copyright protection laws is now prohibited, there are no specific criminal sanctions for such an act, although a record company can demand compensation if the activity came to light.

What about movie piracy? The folks behind Pirate Cinema boldly rationalize their enterprise by saying that the present copyright legislation only serves the interests of big companies and big-name artists because the regular "culture workers" don't really live on their art. Huh? While police have investigated the screenings and the organizers face charges of violating copyright law, the "moviegoers" apparently have not broken any law. And while Mr. Kotilainen has said, "We are pleased that officials have taken action," others see the Pirate Cinema action as just a "provocation" and not worthy of making a big issue.

As for the impact of the Finnish law on the counterfeit drug trade, the Helsingin Santomat has quoted Anssi Kartila of the Finnish Board of Customs as saying that the current national legislation is the reason why Finland is used as a transit country: "Transit for medicines is unrestricted. Cases are investigated only if the holder of a medicine's brand name or patent files a criminal complaint alleging fraud. In other cases, the medicines will be allowed to pass through."  He believes that the counterfeit drugs that get into Finland are usually not intended for the Finnish market, but actually originate in India or China and pass through Finland on the way to Central Europe or Russia.

The bill proposed for the new copyright law is still subject to change. There are those who think it may lead to unreasonable practices. But with recent events proving to be outright disregard for current laws, perhaps what the new legislation needs most is… teeth.