Music piracy research - news archive

Music piracy ('muziekpiraterij' in dutch) is a very complex phenomenon to comprehend. These pages wishes to address all of you who are interested in music piracy in a broad sense. You'll find 2721 articles related to music and video piracy (with special attention to articles from Belgium and the Netherlands) originating from 526 unique (web)sources. I started archiving news articles about music and video piracy since 1999. In 2001 I wrote a scientific dissertation about music piracy for my Master's degree in Communication Sciences at the K.U.Leuven. This dissertation incluced a survey among 1500 individuals.

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Jan Verkoyen

Archive for May 2006

Swedish police shut Web site in music piracy raid

Swedish police detained three people in raids and closed an Internet site on Wednesday that the entertainment industry said was a major source of music and film piracy. (...). "Three people ... have been taken in for questioning on suspicion of breaking copyright law or abetting the breaking of copyright law," Stockholm police, who carried out raids at 10 locations, said in a statement.

Reuters, 2006, May 31st | Language: EN | 297 words

AllofMP3 is illegal, says music industry

A hugely popular seller of music downloads is illegal, according to the music industry, and prosecutions are underway. AllofMP3.com, a Moscow-based service that undercuts iTunes by enormous margins, was accused today of paying nothing to artists.

The Register, 2006, May 30th | Language: EN | 667 words

Man gets probation for music piracy

Matthew Howard, 24, pleaded guilty in March to one count of violating federal copyright laws for distributing digital copies of pirated music on the Internet before the music had been commercially released, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. (...) Investigators said Howard and two other designers of the "Apocalypse Crew" Internet group distributed pirated music on the Internet. The men were caught by a federal program called Operation FastLink, the largest worldwide law enforcement effort ever directed at online piracy, DOJ officers said. (...) (...) a couple of years they and others swapped about 10,000 songs, along with unreleased movies and software, worth between $30,000 and $70,000.

Daily Times-call, 2006, May 27th | Language: EN | 420 words

Bulgarian police bust major European web pirates

Bulgarian police charged two men on Saturday for illegally distributing music and films in what officials called one of Europe's largest Internet pirate groups. They arrested an administrator and systems operator for putting download links to 20 million songs -- or roughly 3 million albums -- and hundreds of films on the web site www.arenabg.com, one of Bulgaria's most popular pages.

Reuters, 2006, May 27th | Language: EN | 264 words

Kazaa fighters appoint new boss

Sabiene Heindl, a former senior associate with law firm Allens Arthur Robinson, is the first person to take on the post following Michael Kerin's resignation at the end of a five-month stint with Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI) from May last year. (...) MIPI also advertised online earlier this month for a new investigations manager. According to the advertisement, the manager's duties would include: the management and direction of anti-piracy operations, establishment of strategies and relationships with state and national law enforcement bodies, as well as involvement in anti-piracy training, education and awareness programs.

Zdnet, 2006, May 26th | Language: EN | 388 words

Unsigned bands get download store

A new website is offering unsigned bands the means to sell their music over the internet. Indiestore.com allows artists to set up their own web pages and charge fans for downloading their tracks. Its owner, 7 Digital, already provides download stores for established acts like Coldplay and Gorillaz. Sales will count towards the download charts, but bands will not be eligible for the main Top 40 unless their music is also available in shops.

Bbc, 2006, May 25th | Language: EN | 358 words

MPAA accused of hiring a hacker

A lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses the Motion Picture Association of America of hiring a hacker to steal information from a company that the MPAA has accused of helping copyright violators. Torrentspy's complaint includes claims that the man whom the MPAA allegedly paid $15,000 to steal e-mail correspondence and trade secrets has admitted his role in the plot and is cooperating with the company. "It is a Hollywood drama, what happened here," Ira Rothken, Torrentspy's attorney, said in a telephone interview Wednesday evening. The allegations come three months after the MPAA filed suit against Torrentspy and other directories for allegedly making it easier for pirates to distribute movies over the Internet.

Zdnet, 2006, May 24th | Language: EN | 578 words

Intellectual Property Organizations Deliver Mixed Signals

The CRIA (Canadian Recording Industry Association) has recently launched another publicity campaign. Their effort seems to be another attempt to drum up support for ratifying copyright with the highly controversial WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Treaties.

Slyck, 2006, May 24th | Language: EN | 445 words

Man pleads guilty to music piracy in largest US case of its kind

Zhai Yaobin, 33, admitted in US District Court in the Silicon Valley city of San Jose that he had participated in a conspiracy to mass-produce pirated music, according to Luke Macauley of the Department of Justice. (...) Police reported confiscating approximately 494,000 compact discs and DVDs containing illegally copied songs and computer software, the largest such seizure of its kind in the country to date.

Middle East Times, 2006, May 24th | Language: EN | 323 words

Germany launches biggest legal action against illegal file-sharing

The biggest single action against illegal file-sharing internationally took place in Germany today as 3,500 illegal music file-sharers faced criminal prosecution for uploading large amounts of copyrighted material on peer-to-peer networks. Investigators identified individual illegal music file-sharers who were using the eDonkey network to offer up to 8,000 copyright infringing music files on the internet. (...) Police today searched 130 premises to gather evidence in the investigations, which have been running for several months. The actions are coordinated by the Public Prosecution Service of Cologne and the Police Authority of Bergheim.

IFPI, 2006, May 23rd | Language: EN | 462 words

Free downloads end Sony CD saga

Millions of music fans will be given free music downloads or money to compensate for flawed anti-piracy software on CDs from label Sony BMG. The final approval to the settlement for lawsuits against the music giant was granted by a US judge on Monday. (...) The dispute began in November 2005 after software developer Mark Russinovich found that anti-piracy software XCP used by Sony employed virus-like techniques to hide itself on PCs. This cloaked technology, he said, could be exploited by hackers. Following the reports, several lawsuits were taken against the record label. (...) According to the settlement, consumers who bought a CD with the XCP software can receive a replacement disc. They will also receive either a cash payment of $7.50 and one free album download, or three free album downloads.

Bbc, 2006, May 23rd | Language: EN | 325 words

A South Bend business has been busted for selling pirated music CDs.

A South Bend business has been busted for selling pirated music CDs. Music piracy is a growing black-market industry and was worth more than $4.5 billion dollars last year. (...) Police had already raided the store last week, after a clerk sold a pirated CD to an undercover investigator. However, when police returned Tuesday to arrest the storeowner, detectives say they found even more pirated CDs up for sale.

Wndu-tv, 2006, May 23rd | Language: EN | 165 words

Mobistar lanceert Music Store met meer dan 350.000 songs

Mobistar lanceert de Music Store, waar alle Tempo-klanten en abonnees met een passie voor muziek meer dan 350.000 muziektitels rechtstreeks kunnen downloaden op hun gsm. Mobistar speelt hiermee in op de muziek- en mp3-rage van het moment. Met het oog op het aanbieden van de beste mobiele muziekervaring, heeft Mobistar een exclusief partnership afgesloten met Sony Ericsson.

Mobistar, 2006, May 19th | Language: NL | 262 words

Three Defendants Sentenced In Federal Internet Music Piracy Crackdown; One Defendant Receives 15 Months in Prison

The first members of pre-release music piracy groups from Operation FastLink were sentenced today, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg of the Eastern District of Virginia announced. Derek A. Borchardt, age 22, of Charlotte, N.C.; Aaron O. Jones, age 30, of Hillsboro, Ore.; and George S. Hayes, age 31, of Danville, Va., were sentenced for their involvement with Internet music piracy groups.

Us Newswire, 2006, May 19th | Language: EN | 610 words

Mobistar start muziekwinkel

Telecomoperator Mobistar lanceert een muziekwinkel, waar alle klanten meer dan 350.000 liedjes kunnen downloaden via hun GSM. Dat meldt het bedrijf in een persbericht. Een nummer kost 1,99 euro. De klant dient over een EDGE-compatibele GSM te beschikken. Mobistar biedt vanaf vandaag een GSM met ingebouwde MP3-speler van Sony Ericsson in zijn winkels aan voor 399 euro.

De Standaard, 2006, May 19th | Language: NL | 73 words

Achttienjarige Fransman is topexpert in downloadwetgeving

Ridouan, een zoon van een gescheiden poetsvrouw, kwam in 2004 al in het nieuws, toen hij tijdens een persconferentie van de platenindustrie in Frankrijk, waarop het plan uit de doeken werd gedaan om een vijftigtal internetpiraten zwaar aan te pakken, openlijk uitriep dat hij illegaal downloadt. Sinds die dag leidt hij de Audionautes, een organisatie die juridische bijstand verleent aan mensen die door de platenindustrie worden vervolgd.

De Morgen, 2006, May 17th | Language: NL | 351 words

Microsoft-concurrent voor iTunes morgen online

De muziekzender MTV en softwaregigant Microsoft lanceren morgen de muziekdienst Urge. Daarmee gaan ze de concurrentie aan met de populaire muziekdienst iTunes van computerfabrikant Apple. De prijs per liedje is bij beide diensten gelijk. Urge maakt gebruik van de Windows Media Player-technolgie. Een eigen toestel om de nummers op af te spelen, zoals de iPod, is er niet. Het aanbod omvat meer dan twee miljoen liedjes van 110.000 artiesten en zo'n 130 radiostations.

De Standaard, 2006, May 16th | Language: NL | 157 words

[VIDEO] Da Vinci Code in stukken naar bioscoop

Producent en verdeler Sony Pictures wil absoluut vermijden dat iemand op voorhand de film ziet, kopieert en op het internet zet. Bij de lancering van King Kong , die vorige Hollywood-blockbuster, werd de filmwereld meteen in verlegenheid gebracht. (...) ij de lancering van King Kong is in de Brusselse vestiging van Kinepolis een man met een videocamera in de hand betrapt. ,,De wet die de auteursrechten beschermt, verbiedt het maken van opnamen tijdens een filmprojectie. De persoon die deze opnamen maakte, is door de politie verhoord en dat dossier is nu naar het parket doorgestuurd. Op camcording staan straffen van 500 tot 500.000 euro'', zegt Christophe Van Mechelen van de Belgian Anti-Piracy Foundation. (...) Myriam Dassonville van Kinepolis: ,,Wij gaan er tijdens de première van De Da Vinci Code zeker op letten dat niemand de zaal binnengaat met een grote tas waar opnameapparatuur in zit. Ook vanuit de projectiekamer houden we de zaak in het oog.''

De Standaard, 2006, May 16th | Language: NL | 492 words

Government eases laws on copyrigh

LAWS will be changed allowing people to legally record music from CDs to their iPods and other digital music players. The federal government is reportedly proposing a raft of changes to the copyright laws to combat music piracy. (...) The government wants to crack down on those who are using the material to make a profit or causing significant losses by distributing other people's property.

News.com Australia, 2006, May 14th | Language: EN | 156 words

Now Download Full Songs on Hutch

In what the company calls an industry first, Hutch has launched its "Full Song Download" service that allows subscribers to download entire songs across categories such as Bollywood, International, Indipop and Regional hits on to their Hutch phones.(...) In an effort to curb music piracy, the new service is DRM (digital rights management) protected. In effect, once songs are downloaded, they would get locked to the phone using DRM, and will not be able to be transferred via Bluetooth or exchange of simcards.

Techtree India, 2006, May 14th | Language: EN | 305 words

France debates downloads, with teen as top expert

"All sides must listen to Aziz because he has an entire generation behind him," said Julien Dourgnon, economic director of the Consumer's Federal Union, one of the largest consumer advocacy groups in France. "He may still be in high school, but Aziz has a more profound understanding of copyright law than most lawyers and members of Parliament."

Cnet, 2006, May 14th | Language: EN | 816 words

[VIDEO] Strijden tegen filmpiraten

Op gespecialiseerde sites (de zogenaamde peer to peer- netwerken) wordt er nu ruim vijf maal zoveel beeldmateriaal als muziek gedownload. Drie jaar geleden was muziek nog ruim tweemaal zo belangrijk als beeld. (...) Behalve films worden ook populaire televisieprogramma's als Flikken of Het Eiland steeds vaker gedownload. ,,Anderhalf uur na uitzending zijn ze al op het internet te vinden'', zegt Rik Reynaers van de beroepsorganisatie Belgian Antipiracy Foundation (BAF). (...) De BAF wil ook dat de overheid strenger optreedt, bijvoorbeeld door meer mensen beschikbaar te stellen voor de Federal Computer Crime Unit [FCCU].

De Standaard, 2006, May 13th | Language: NL | 341 words

Russian MP3 sales site 'more popular in UK than Napster'

A Russian company [AllofMP3.com] labelled by the music industry as as an "unlawful" operation was nonetheless second only to iTunes as the favoured destination of UK digital music buyers during April 2006, figures from UK-based market watcher XTN Data reveal.

The Register, 2006, May 12th | Language: EN | 472 words

[VIDEO] Piraterij kost Belgsiche sector 30 miljoen euro

De filmsector in België verliest elk jaar ongeveer 30 miljoen dollar door piraterij. (...) BAF wil de piraterij nu via een drievoudig actieplan aanpakken. Het gaat de beleidsmakers aanspreken, in samenwerking met politie, gerecht en douane juridische acties tegen piraten voorbereiden en een uitgebreide sensibiliseringscampagne lanceren naar jongeren en videotheken toe.

Het Laatste Nieuws, 2006, May 12th | Language: NL | 295 words

Poll: 55% break copyright law [UK]

A poll has spotlighted the folly of current copyright law in the UK. Fifty-nine per cent of respondents in the National Consumer Council (NCC) commissioned poll thought copying their own CDs was perfectly legal, and 55 per cent said they have done so. However, current law states that it is illegal to rip CDs to any other media.

The Register, 2006, May 12th | Language: EN | 167 words

Kate Bulkley interviews Rob Glaser of Real Networks: the unabridged version

The average number of songs sold for iPod is 25 and there are many more songs on iPods than 25. In fact about half of the music on iPods is music that people got illegitimately either from an illegal peer-to-peer networks or from ripping their friends CDs, which is illegal. [This is very reminiscent of Steve Ballmer's comments in October 2004 - Charles Arthur.]

The Guardian, 2006, May 11th | Language: EN | 3225 words

Fransen stemmen in met nieuwe copyrightwet

Volgens de nieuwe wet riskeert iemand die een film- of muziekbestand downloadt, een boete van 38 euro. Wie dat bestand ook nog eens verspreidt door het als upload aan te bieden, kan een boete van maximaal 150 euro krijgen (...) Een softwaremaker die een p2p-programma heeft gemaakt waarmee het illegaal downloaden gestimuleerd kan worden, kan een straf krijgen van maximaal drie jaar cel of een boete van 300.000 euro.

Webwereld, 2006, May 11th | Language: NL | 293 words

BPI prepared to discuss ripping CDs

Despite what most consumers believe, it is technically illegal for UK consumers to make copies of their own CDs. It is believed many within the BPI accept that this is a farcical legal situation, but fears over file-sharing - which the BPI has actively pursued - mean some are unwilling to allow CDs to be ripped onto computers as this could be seen as a first step to file-sharing.

The Register, 2006, May 10th | Language: EN | 280 words

Sony opts for open audio format

The behemoth Japanese conglomerate, which once controlled the portable music market, announced Tuesday that the company's data compression technology would be compatible with a number of rival formats, including Apple's format of choice, AAC. In the past, Sony has fiercely held to its own Atrac system. By switching to a technology that supports AAC, Sony appears to be acknowledging Apple's dominance in the digital music playing market, say analysts.

Cnet, 2006, May 10th | Language: EN | 192 words

No Swords or Eye Patches Needed for Modern Piracy

Six computer users in Memphis and the surrounding area have been sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for illegally downloading music from the Internet, an act for which each could pay a fine of more than $4,000. (...) Like a stereo system with the volume knob cranked all the way up, the reverb from this and previous court actions continues to be heard. To date, the three-year-old attack launched by the trade association has resulted in more than 18,000 lawsuits, most of which have been settled out of court; others are pending. (...) A spokesman for the RIAA said copyright law allows for fines of between $750 and $150,000 for each instance of copyright infringement. The average settlement amount the RIAA negotiates falls somewhere between $4,000 and $5,000.

Memphis Daily News, 2006, May 9th | Language: EN | 932 words

[VIDEO] Can BitTorrent thrive in the mainstream?

Entertainment executives now appear willing to partner with file-sharing companies. One reason, said Nitin Gupta, a research analyst at The Yankee Group, is that Hollywood needs a cheap and speedy way to transfer huge video files via the Web. Peer-to-peer technologies can do that. Another reason is that by offering the public a legal and inexpensive way to download video, the studios may feel they can remove the need to pirate content while the industry is still in its infancy, Gupta says. (...) While it might be useful in moving large files, BitTorrent has yet to prove that its technology is a successful consumer service. To send movies across the Internet on a wide scale, entertainment chiefs are going to want absolute control over where the video goes, who sees it and who pays, said Todd Johnson, Kontiki's former chief executive.

Cnet, 2006, May 9th | Language: EN | 723 words

[VIDEO] BitTorrent inks studio distribution deal

Warner Bros. Entertainment Group has agreed to use BitTorrent's peer-to-peer system to distribute movies and television shows, including "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Babylon 5," beginning this summer, the companies are expected to announce Tuesday. (...) In the past, San Francisco-based BitTorrent was falsely perceived to be the video equivalent of Napster, said Ashwin Navin, the company's president. BitTorrent never maintained a network to help people exchange copyright material and has gone to lengths to separate the company from law breakers, he said.

Cnet, 2006, May 8th | Language: EN | 290 words

Winkeliers krijgen muzak terugbetaald

De onwettig geïnde billijke vergoeding moet worden terugbetaald aan 24.000 zelfstandigen. Daarover bestaat sinds gisteren een akkoord. De 24.000 zelfstandigen krijgen 55 procent van de onwettige vergoeding terug, in totaal anderhalf miljoen euro. (...) De billijke vergoeding dateert van 1999. Vanaf dan moesten de winkeliers en vrije beroepers een vergoeding betalen aan artiesten en producenten voor de muziek die ze speelden in winkels of wachtzalen.

De Morgen, 2006, May 6th | Language: NL | 207 words

File-share firm averts legal move

The company behind the US-based BearShare file-sharing service has agreed to pay $30m (£16.2m) to avoid legal action from the music industry. Free Peers Inc has agreed to no longer operate any unlicensed online music services, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles. It will also sell its technology, rights to the BearShare domain name and user data to another company. Four other companies challenged by the music industry have yet to settle.

Bbc, 2006, May 5th | Language: EN | 241 words

Warner Music faces 14 lawsuits over download fees

In documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Warner Music said the company has been named in 14 class-action lawsuits, most of which allege a "conspiracy among record companies to fix prices for downloads." "The company intends to defend against these lawsuits vigorously," Warner Music said in its quarterly statement filed Friday. The accusations come three months after Eliott Spitzer, New York's attorney general, began investigating whether several of the big music companies agreed to fix download prices. Such an agreement would violate antitrust laws.

Cnet, 2006, May 5th | Language: EN | 322 words

BearShare operators to pay $30 million to avoid music piracy claims

The operators of the BearShare online file-sharing service have agreed to pay $30 million to avoid potential copyright infringement lawsuits from the recording industry, according to court documents. Free Peers Inc., which distributed the BearShare software, also agreed to close up shop and not operate any unlicensed online music services, according to the documents filed Thursday. A federal judge must still give final approval to the terms of the settlement.

Mainichi Daily News, 2006, May 5th | Language: EN | 375 words

RIAA names piracy hotspots

Music pirates from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon--and all but 12 places in between--breathed a sigh of relief today, as the music industry's mouthpiece named 12 US cities as hotspots for commercial CD piracy and vowed to step up law enforcement efforts in those cities. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) released a new report on commercial piracy, naming Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Providence, San Diego, and San Francisco as the places where counterfeit CD sales are at their highest.

Mp3.com, 2006, May 4th | Language: EN | 320 words

[VIDEO] Piracy 'costs US studios $6.1bn'

The research was conducted in 28 countries, over 18 months Hollywood studios have claimed that film piracy cost them $6.1bn (£3.3bn) in lost revenue in 2005. The study, commissioned by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), suggested the figure was 75 per cent higher than previous estimates. (...) In the United States, illegal copying is the most prominent way to get pirated movies, whereas in other countries, downloads and bootlegging are more commonly used.

Bbc, 2006, May 4th | Language: EN | 292 words

French court drops DRM interoperability provision

A higher French select legal committee has dropped the contentious provision from its copyright law that would have placed the onus on companies using DRM on music services, to license it to other equipment makers.

The Register, 2006, May 4th | Language: EN | 216 words

Chili Peppers angered by Web leak

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have lashed out at a music pirate who leaked the funk-rock band's upcoming album onto the Internet, and urged fans not to download it illegally. The band's spokeswoman said on Wednesday the offender was being tracked down. The group's highly anticipated first studio album in four years, "Stadium Arcadium," is still on track to go on sale on Tuesday via Warner Music Group Inc.'s Warner Bros. Records, she said.

Cnn, 2006, May 4th | Language: EN | 366 words

Music industry to target CD pirates in 12 cities

(...) the music industry is targeting pirates in 12 cities who copy C-Ds and D-V-Ds for sale at street corners, flea markets, family-run shops and even mainstream record stores. (...-) The cities were selected based on market surveys, earlier raids and industry reviews of sales data suggesting lost sales during the past five years.

Team 4 News, 2006, May 3rd | Language: EN | 174 words

iPods KO NHS computers

DOZY staff crashed a hospital's vital computer system for TWO DAYS — by downloading songs for their iPods. NHS computers which should be used to store patient notes and digital X-rays were crammed full of tunes. Staff had downloaded the songs over the internet to the PCs for transfer to their trendy iPod music players. The main server at the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, was put out of action for 48 hours.

The Sun, 2006, May 3rd | Language: EN | 204 words

'Downloaden kost Nederlandse filmindustrie 82 miljoen'

"82 miljoen is een substantieel bedrag, we praten over een daling van 10 procent", verklaarde Ruud Lamers van het Platform Filmwereld.net dinsdag in een uitzending van Nova. Wereldwijd schat de Motion Picture Association of America de jaarlijkse verliezen op 4,4 miljard euro. De overheid zou niet alleen te weinig doen om het onbetaald downloaden tegen te gaan, maar zelfs medeverantwoordelijk zijn voor de illegale verspreiding van films. Minister Brinkhorst van Economische Zaken kende de TU Delft 3 miljoen euro subsidie toe voor het ontwikkelen van het p2p-programma Tribler, dat onlangs nog de Vosko Trofee ontving. De makers van Tribler willen met het programma de distributie van tv-beelden stimuleren.

Webwereld, 2006, May 3rd | Language: NL | 266 words

Napster biedt weer miljoenen nummers gratis aan

Er zijn wel voorwaarden verbonden aan het beluisteren van de Napster-muziek. Zo mogen Napster-gebruikers een nummer maximaal vijfmaal beluisteren. Daarna moeten ze betalen. De dienst wordt gefinancierd uit reclame-inkomsten. Napster deelt de advertentieopbrengsten met de platenmaatschappijen. Hoe vaker een nummer wordt afgespeeld, hoe meer de platenmaatschappijen krijgen. (...) Napster heeft nu 600.000 abonnees. Zij betalen 9,95 dollar voor het onbeperkt luisteren naar de muziek en 14,95 dollar voor een abonnement waarbij ze tracks kunnen overzetten naar een ander apparaat, zoals een mp3-speler.

Webwereld, 2006, May 2nd | Language: NL | 155 words

Michael Balzary commentary on leaked studio album

when i woke up this morning i was was confronted with the news that our record has been leaked to the internet

Red Hot Chili Peppers Official Website, 2006, May 2nd | Language: EN | 525 words

Apple, labels stick with 99 cents per iTunes song

"We've renewed our agreements with the major music companies and we're pleased to continue offering iTunes customers music at 99 cents per song from a library of over 3 million songs," the representative said in a statement. Earlier on Monday, the Financial Times reported that the four major labels--Universal, Warner Music Group, EMI and Sony BMG--had agreed to the deal, which the Apple representative confirmed.

Cnet, 2006, May 1st | Language: EN | 217 words

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