The government has moved to curb software piracy by controlling the prices of CDs, VCDs and DVDs as well as computer software, reports said today.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted by The Star as saying the cabinet had decided to place the items under the Price Control Act so they could be sold at reasonable prices, thereby discouraging the public from buying pirated versions.

The government intervention followed requests from consumer bodies and also due to the industry's reluctance to heed a call to lower prices to help fight piracy, he said.

The ministry would hold a meeting with some 60 main copyright owners in the country to obtain feedback on fixing prices.

"We want to see the important components in order to have a mechanism for affordable price levels. It will be competitive and beneficial to consumers so that the music and film industry can continue to grow," he said.

Since January, some 3.22 million CDs, VCDs and DVDs worth RM23 million have been seized, Muhyiddin said. Nine illegal factories have been crippled and duplicating machines worth RM21 million confiscated.

Malaysia, like many parts of Asia, is awash with pirated software, CDs and VCDs. New movies are usually on the streets for less than RM4 even before they open in most parts of the world. - AFP