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 July 2007

Illegal music downloads hit record high

The 2007 Digital Media Survey, carried out by Entertainment Media Research in conjunction with media lawyers Olswang, revealed that the popularity of social networking websites such as MySpace and BeBo is helping to "democratise" the music industry as more young people discover new music online instead of via the radio or music television.

Telegraph, 2007, July 31st | Language: EN | 408 words

Vt. man sued for music piracy

Downloading songs such as "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" by The Clash and "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell has a Vermont man facing a federal lawsuit for allegedly illegally pirating music online and sharing it with others.

Rutland Herald, 2007, July 25th | Language: EN | 521 words

EFF sues Universal over 'fair use' of song in YouTube video

Among dissenters is the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against RIAA member Universal Music Publishing Group after the company asked that a home video be removed from YouTube due to copyright infringement. The video features 18-month-old Holden Lenz dancing to Prince's "Let's Get Crazy" and runs for a total of 29 seconds. (...) The EFF points out that, "Under federal copyright law, a mere allegation of copyright infringement can result in the removal of content from the Internet." This legal framework mandates that services take down material that may actually be completely lawful or protected under fair use, and this situation is the impetus for the suit.

Cnet, 2007, July 24th | Language: EN | 374 words

RIAA says lawsuits cannot be the complete answer to music piracy

(...) RIAA acknowledged that suing potential customers "was not the answer," while adding that the lawsuits were "a necessary part of a larger equation." "Litigation tends to generate more heat, friction, and headlines," Jonathan Lamy, a spokesman for the RIAA told us. "What is the most important anti-piracy strategy is aggressive licensing and offering great legal alternatives. That is what our member companies obviously do and our job is to complement that, which is the most important thing to do to win over fans."

TG Daily, 2007, July 23rd | Language: EN | 1340 words

EU Court Backs ISPs on User Privacy

Internet service providers (ISPs) are not obliged to hand over information on people suspected of illegally sharing music and other copyright material online, an advisor to the EU's highest court has said. The advisor to the European Court of Justice (EJC), advocate general Juliane Kokott, said on Wednesday (18 July) that according to EU law, member states are allowed to 'exclude' revealing personal data on internet traffic in civil cases -- unlike criminal cases where such compliance would be required.

Business Week, 2007, July 20th | Language: EN | 408 words

The Owner's Manual: Internet music file limits loosen

DRM restricts content usage according to the copyright holder with specially programmed limitations, such as the ability to play only on certain devices. Supporters stand behind DRM as protection against music piracy. Critics call it a roadblock to interoperability and fair use.

San Antonio Express, 2007, July 20th | Language: EN | 480 words

Copyright Board of Canada gives thumbs-up to "iPod tax"

Canadians who purchase digital music players and removable memory cards should have to pay an extra tax, according to the Copyright Board of Canada. The decision stated that the proposed levy, originally suggested by the Canadian Private Copyright Collective (CPCC), followed the intent of the country's Copyright Act and Parliament and therefore such a tariff could be enacted.

Ars Technica, 2007, July 20th | Language: EN | 554 words

Zimbabwe: 'Speed Up Prosecution in Piracy Cases'

The Zimbabwe Music Rights Association has urged the courts to speed up prosecution of people caught engaging in piracy. The music association's general manager, Polisile Ncube, said last week that the illegal reproduction of music was negatively impacting on the country's music industry.

Allafrica.com, 2007, July 16th | Language: EN | 283 words

Newspaper gives away Prince CDs

Around three million copies of Prince's new album, Planet Earth, have been given away with the Mail On Sunday. The promotion is believed to be worth about £250,000 to the musician (...) But the giveaway has angered retailers, who called it "an insult" to high street record stores. It also dealt a blow to Prince's record label, Sony BMG, which has shelved plans to release the album in the UK.

Bbc, 2007, July 15th | Language: EN | 389 words

Illegaal downloaden verhinder je niet door filters'

Het plaatsen van filters, zoals auteursrechtenvereniging Sabam eist in de strijd tegen muziekpiraterij, jaagt de internetsector op kosten die niet doeltreffend zijn. Dat stelt de vereniging van internetproviders ISPA (Internet Service Providers Association). ,,Een dergelijke maatregel is door de gebruikers makkelijk te omzeilen. Bovendien is zo'n filtering zeer duur wat betekent dat iedereen zal moeten meebetalen, ook wie niet illegaal downloadt'', legt Wim Roggeman van ISPA uit.

De Standaard, 2007, July 14th | Language: NL | 166 words

Sabam wil illegaal downloaden van muziek verhinderen

De auteursrechtenvereniging Sabam eist van de internetproviders dat ze illegaal downloaden van muziek verhinderen. Sabam vraagt de internetproviders om filters te installeren die tegengaan dat gebruikers illegaal muziek uitwisselen. Dat meldt Le Soir.

De Standaard, 2007, July 14th | Language: NL | 173 words

Sony BMG Sues CD Anti-Piracy Company

Trying to recoup its losses as a result of placing anti-piracy software on its music CDs, Sony BMG sued the company responsible for the technology, it said on Thursday. (...) The discovery of the use of "rootkits" by Sony BMG was one of the biggest stories of 2005. The lawsuits that followed cost the company about $5.75 million to settle claims by consumers across at least 41 states.

Betanews, 2007, July 12th | Language: EN | 176 words

Cd maakt comeback in België

De Belgische muziekmarkt is voor het eerst in jaren uit de rode cijfers dankzij een plotselinge opleving van de cd-verkoop. In 2006 verkochten platenzaken 17,6 miljoen muziekschijfjes, waardoor de totale markt op 0,2 procent groei uitkwam. (...) Door de gestegen cd-verkoop is België een van de weinige landen binnen Europa die uit de problemen weten te blijven. Wereldwijd gezien werden vorig jaar vijf procent minder cd's, dvd's en mp3's verkocht.

Zdnet, 2007, July 11th | Language: NL | 333 words

In Brazil, performers embrace music pirates

It's a scene familiar to pop fans around the world, but what sets tecnobrega apart -- and what has inspired many to call it the future of the global music industry -- is that it has exploded in the absence of record companies, concert promoters or anything resembling a traditional music industry. While media giants spend millions fighting music piracy, tecnobrega singers record their songs on home computers and send their music directly to bootleggers, who burn hundreds of copies and sell them at sidewalk stands next to illegal copies of the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Miami Herald, 2007, July 9th | Language: EN | 964 words

4 Utahns sued in music piracy suit

"We're suing individual file sharers because we've already gone after businesses like Napster and Kazaa. Many of these popular sites have either transformed themselves into legal businesses or gone away. But there are still people who won't stop, and it's important to introduce the idea there are risks associated with illegal music downloading," Lamy said.

Daily Herald, 2007, July 7th | Language: EN | 668 words

Chinese Google-killer in music deal

Chinese internet search leader Baidu.com has signed an agreement with one of Taiwan's largest Chinese-language record labels to offer streaming music services supported by advertising revenue. A selection of music from the label Rock Music Group, whose artists include Mayday and Bobby Chen, will be available for streaming at no charge to Baidu's users, the companies said.

Pc Advisor, 2007, July 5th | Language: EN | 252 words

Cameron pledge over violent music

David Cameron has pledged to extend copyright on music to 70 years - in exchange for an effort by music bosses to curb violent music and imagery. The Tory leader told record industry chiefs they had a responsibility to help fix Britain's "broken society".

Bbc, 2007, July 4th | Language: EN | 595 words

Moscow closes 'pirate' music website

Allofmp3.com, whose ultra-cheap prices had made it by some estimates Britain's second most popular download site after Apple Computer's ITunes, ceased operating shortly before President Vladimir Putin left Moscow for Monday's summit with President George W. Bush in Maine. MediaServices, the site's owner, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday, but a person familiar with the site confirmed it had closed.

Msnbc, 2007, July 4th | Language: EN | 398 words

Gerechtelijke overwinning voor Sabam in geschil met Scarlet

De rechtbank van eerste aanleg in Brussel heeft internetprovider Scarlet (het vroegere Tiscali) in een vonnis van 29 juni veroordeeld tot het stopzetten van de inbreuken op het auteursrecht. Scarlet moet de illegale uitwisseling, via P2P-software, van elektronische bestanden die een muziekwerk uit het Sabam-repertoire bevatten, voor zijn klanten onmogelijk maken.

Het Laatste Nieuws, 2007, July 4th | Language: NL | 353 words

Apple denies big record label may quit iTunes

Apple Inc. denied reports Monday that record label Universal Music Group did not plan to renew its contract to sell songs on its online iTunes Store. "We are still negotiating with Universal," Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said. "Their music is still on iTunes and their not re-signing is just not true."

San Francisco Chronicle, 2007, July 3rd | Language: EN | 595 words

Apple faces a rebellion over iTunes

The Universal Music Group of Vivendi, the world's biggest music corporation, last week notified Apple that it will not renew its annual contract to sell music through iTunes. (...) Instead, Universal said that it would market music to Apple at will, a move that could allow Universal to remove its songs from the iTunes service on short notice if the two sides do not agree on pricing or other terms in the future, these executives said. Universal's roster of artists includes stars like U2, Akon and Amy Winehouse.

Cnet, 2007, July 1st | Language: EN | 1097 words

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