A new video-related problem has arisen. Fraudulent registrations of motion picture titles are made with the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, which then form the basis of false copyright ownership claims by video pirates. Companies such as Tocantins and Opcao have relied on false registrations of MPA member company titles as evidence of their ownership of the copyrights in those titles. Efforts are being made to ensure that Ministry of Culture regulations specify that such registrations do not constitute proof of ownership of copyright. Satellite signal theft and cable TV piracy is expected to increase with the expansion of the pay TV market following passage of the new cable law in January 1995.
Brazil also continues to have a problem with unauthorized public performances.
Video theaters exist in major urban centers as well as in large cities in outlying areas. In mid-1993, Brazil revised certain provisions in its Penal Code, improving the ability of law enforcement to seize pirate material and to prosecute offenders. Among other reforms, the rental of pirate videocassettes was made a crime subject to ex officio enforcement by the police. In all, six small duplication centers have been dismantled. However, the full impact of these reforms has yet to be demonstrated, since it takes around three years to complete judicial resolution of cases.