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 October 2007

De Standaard

Eerste mp3-spam gesignaleerd

Het Amerikaanse beveiligingsbedrijf Messagelabs onderschepte op 17oktober de eerste van naar schatting 15miljoen spammails met mp3-spam. De aangehechte mp3-bestanden hadden namen als Beatles.mp3, Britney.mp3 en Elvis.mp3. Wie ze opende, hoorde echter geen muziek (...)

De Standaard, 2007, October 31st | Language: NL | 304 words

Ohio U. Plays Host to a Forum on File Swapping

Earlier this year, Ohio University finished atop the recording industry’s infamous list of institutions receiving the most copyright-infringement notices. But these days the university is singing a much happier tune: Campus officials say a ban on illicit peer-to-peer networking has cut down on piracy without restricting legal file sharing.

Chronicle Of Higer Education, 2007, October 31st | Language: EN | 458 words

It's time for the RIAA to the face the music

Pirating music must be stopped! The artists have to eat! Those are the cries from the likes of the RIAA. Never mind that the bands and musicians, the real artists, only ever see a small percentage of what the labels and their enforcers rake in. Music piracy is clearly (in the eyes of the RIAA, it's ilk, and the bastion of lawyers they employ) the Ultimate Evil facing our times.

The Inquirer, 2007, October 29th | Language: EN | 653 words

Belgian man heavily fined for Internet piracy

The appeal court in the eastern Belgian city of Liege imposed damages of more than 400,000 euros (568,000 U.S. dollars) on the man last week, but the news was only announced Friday by IFPI Belgium, an organization representing the music industry and the plaintiff in the case. The case came to light in 2000 after an anonymous tip-off about large sales of illegal music, films, games and software in the eastern Belgian town of Verviers.

Xinhua, 2007, October 27th | Language: EN | 169 words

De Standaard

Belgische internetpiraat moet 400.000 euro betalen

Het hof van beroep in Luik heeft een Belgische internetpiraat veroordeeld tot meer dan 400.000 euro schadevergoeding. De man kopieerde illegaal films, games, software en muziek. Het gaat om het grootste boeteooit voor piraterij in ons land. Bij de piraat werden meer dan 7.500 illegale kopieÃ"n in beslag genomen.

De Standaard, 2007, October 26th | Language: NL | 293 words

De Standaard

Sabam verdacht van verduistering en witwas

Sabam zou een deel van de honderden miljoenen euro’s aan auteursrechten die het int, hebben verduisterd. Het verduisterde geld zou zijn witgewassen via de Kas voor Onderlinge Hulp en Solidariteit (KOHS), een fonds van Sabam.

De Standaard, 2007, October 26th | Language: NL | 240 words

the guardian

Police shut down website after two-year music piracy inquiry

The invitation-only website, which had an estimated 180,000 users, was well known among internet filesharers as one of the most popular and exclusive sources of free downloads. Following raids on a flat and offices on Teesside, Cleveland police confirmed they had arrested the site's administrator on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and infringement of copyright law.

The Guardian, 2007, October 24th | Language: EN | 419 words

reuters

Music piracy Web site closed after UK, Dutch raids

British and Dutch police shut down one of the world's largest sources of illegal pre-release music on Tuesday and arrested a 24-year-old man. The raids in Amsterdam and the northeast English city of Middlesbrough followed a two-year investigation into a members-only Web site, www.OiNK.cd, which allowed users to upload and download albums before their release.

Reuters, 2007, October 23rd | Language: EN | 398 words

tweakers.net

Thuiskopie: fabrikanten blanco dragers krijgen geen cent terug

Stichting Thuiskopie is niet van plan toe te geven aan de eis van minister Hirsch Ballin om de miljoenen die de stichting nog in kas heeft, terug te geven aan fabrikanten en importeurs van lege geluidsdragers.

Tweakers.net, 2007, October 22nd | Language: NL | 370 words

Universal Music Takes on iTunes

The world's most powerful music executive aims to join forces with other record companies to launch an industry-owned subscription service. BusinessWeek has learned that Morris has already enlisted Sony BMG Music Entertainment as a potential partner and is talking to Warner Music Group. Together the three would control about 75% of the music sold in the U.S. Besides competing head-on with Apple Inc.'s (AAPL ) music store, Morris and his allies hope to move digital music beyond the iPod-iTunes universe by nurturing the likes of Microsoft's Zune media player and Sony's PlayStation and by working with the wireless carriers. The service, which is one of several initiatives the music majors are considering to help reverse sliding sales, will be called Total Music.

Business Week, 2007, October 22nd | Language: EN | 1086 words

Universal wants USB music

RECORD outfit Universal thinks that the best way to stop music piracy is to replace CD singles with more expensive USB memory sticks.

The Inquirer, 2007, October 22nd | Language: EN | 238 words

En zo dreigt de artiest zijn geld toch nog mis te lopen

Tot ongenoegen van artiesten, componisten, tekstschrijvers en regisseurs wil minister Hirsch Ballin van Justitie 57 miljoen euro teruggeven aan de producenten van blanco dragers zoals lege dvd’s en cd’s. Het geld zit bij de verdeelorganisaties van de Stichting Thuiskopie, die zegt de rechthebbenden niet te kunnen achterhalen.

De Volkskrant, 2007, October 19th | Language: NL | 434 words

Canada to tax legal digital music downloads

Canadians may soon pay a small tax on every legal music store download, says a new measure (PDF) sanctioned by the Copyright Board of Canada. Requested by the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), the tax would apply at least 2.1 cents to every individual song download and 1.5 cents per track for complete albums.

Electronista, 2007, October 19th | Language: EN | 377 words

cnet

U.S. wants end to Allofmp3 spinoffs

Allofmp3.com, the controversial Russian online music store, may be effectively dead for now, especially if its sprawling mother country has any hopes of joining the World Trade Organization any time soon.

Cnet, 2007, October 18th | Language: EN | 584 words

zdnet

iTunes zonder kopieerslot nu even duur als mét

Topman Steve Jobs heeft de prijsdaling bevestigd tegenover de Wall Street Journal. "Het [iTunes Plus-aanbod] is bij onze klanten erg populair, en we maken het nog beter betaalbaar", verklaart hij. De Amerikaanse prijzen van de iTunes zonder kopieerbeveiliging (DRM-vrij) dalen sinds gisteren met bijna een kwart naar 99 dollarcent; de prijs van de 'gewone' iTunes met beperkingen. (...) De iTunes Plus zijn ook voor Belgische gebruikers in prijs verlaagd en kosten nu nog 99 eurocent.

Zdnet, 2007, October 17th | Language: NL | 281 words

Apple reduces prices on iTunes downloads

The iTunes Plus music tracks are free of digital rights-management (DRM) technology, a kind of electronic encryption built into many songs sold online to prevent illegal copying and piracy. iTunes Plus songs usually cost 99p compared to the 79p charged for DRM-encrypted music, but a number of iTunes Plus tracks sold through the online music store have been reduced to 79p.

Telegraph, 2007, October 17th | Language: EN | 490 words

Radiohead generation believes music is free

Radiohead, the contrarian giants of British rock, last week released their seventh album on an unsuspecting public with the challenge of paying as little or as much as they chose. In Rainbows is available on the internet only, and the only compulsory charge is a 45p credit card handling fee. In the same week indie legends The Charlatans went one better and made their new single, You Cross My Path, available from radio station Xfm's website at no charge. "I want the people to own the music and the artists to own the copyright. Why let a record company get in the way of the music?" says Tim Burgess, the Charlatans' lead singer.

Telegraph Newspaper Online, 2007, October 16th | Language: EN | 1663 words

Labels Sue Usenet Service

Major record companies have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Usenet.com (...) The suit claims that the usenet.com service sells access to content that includes millions of unauthorized music files and "touts its service as a haven for those seeking pirated content."

Billboard, 2007, October 15th | Language: EN | 481 words

bbc

Led Zeppelin go digital at last

Rock legends Led Zeppelin are to make their complete back catalogue available for digital download from next month. The band, one of the last major acts to embrace the digital market, will now offer classic hits like Whole Lotta Love from all online music retailers.

Bbc, 2007, October 15th | Language: EN | 234 words

Universal Music puts its faith in memory cure for sliding sales

Universal Music, the world's biggest music company, is to release singles on USB memory sticks this month, in an attempt to arrest the decline in music sales. The Vivendi-owned company plans to charge about £4.99 for USB singles starting on October 29 with releases from piano rock band Keane and Nicole, the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. That compares with £2.99 for a typical CD single.

Times Online, 2007, October 13th | Language: EN | 630 words

the independent

Digital music sales 'to grow 50 per cent this year'

Digital music sales in the UK look set to receive a substantial kick over the next year as competitors such as Nokia up the ante in the battle against iTunes while major music companies free songs from restrictive anti-piracy software.

The Independent, 2007, October 13th | Language: EN | 333 words

RIAA Sends Thirty Pre-Litigation Letters Over Alleged Music Piracy

Thirty individuals at MIT have been sent pre-litigation settlement letters after allegedly illegally downloading copyrighted music, according to a press release issued by the Recording Industry Association of America last month. The letters are part of an RIAA strategy announced February 2007 that give students accused of piracy a chance to settle outside of court. The pre-litigation letters offer discounted settlements compared to settlements available after civil court proceedings begin, according to the press release.

The Tech - MIT's Oldest And Largest Newspaper, 2007, October 12th | Language: EN | 993 words

Behind the Battle for Madonna

At a time when lagging CD sales and music piracy have made the album a mere accessory to touring, merchandising and licensing, it's no wonder that ailing record labels like Warner Music Group have been exploring ways to get a piece of that much more lucrative side of the business. So just imagine how they must feel now that Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter, is close to stealing away pop music icon Madonna for a cool $120 million in cash and stock.

Time, 2007, October 12th | Language: EN | 695 words

"Strijd aanbinden met filmpiraten"

De Belgische filmindustrie start met een campagne tegen het illegaal verspreiden van bioscoopfilms. De sector loopt naar eigen zeggen 30 miljoen euro per jaar mis door illegale kopieÃ"n op het internet. (...) Bailly schat de schade die de Belgische filmindustrie lijdt door de praktijken op 30 miljoen euro per jaar, dat is 10 procent van de totale omzet van de filmindustrie.

VRTnieuws.net - DeRedactie.be, 2007, October 10th | Language: NL | 205 words

BitTorrent goes legit

BitTorrent, the internet file-sharing technology that became notorious as a tool beloved of online pirates, is making another push towards legitimacy in a move that it suggests could make feature-length films play as smoothly over the web as short YouTube-style clips. (...) In February, the privately owned BitTorrent opened an online video store at www.bittorrent.com to sell videos licensed from Hollywood studios.

Business Week, 2007, October 10th | Language: EN | 590 words

18% Of Population Download Content Illegally

The Music Industry Piracy Investigations organisation (MIPI) claims that 18 percent of the Australian population (approximately 2.8 million people) have illegally downloaded music during the past 12 months and that those engaged in file sharing have dramatically increased the volume of music being illegally obtained from previous studies.

Smarthouse Australia, 2007, October 9th | Language: EN | 449 words

Music industry has Aussie pirates in the crosshairs

The anti-piracy arm of the Australian music industry has threatened to start suing individuals for illegal downloading if internet providers do not exert more control over their users.

Sydney Morning Herald, 2007, October 8th | Language: EN | 730 words

Music industry in mobile piracy fight

It is as small as a SIM card. But it has the power to pinch the Indian entertainment industry where it really hurts — in the pocket. Piracy with the help of removable memory cards, used in cellphones, digital cameras and PDAs, is the latest woe for an industry plagued by intellectual property rights violations. And what is worse is that few are aware of its existence. "A one-GB card costs about Rs 1,000 and holds 12 hours of songs," says Savio D'Souza, the secretary-general, Indian Music Industry (IMI), the umbrella body of music-producing companies. "After downloads from the Net, it's the biggest-format offence facing us."

The Telegraph Calcutta, 2007, October 6th | Language: EN | 477 words

I won't surrender to download bullies, says mother fighting the music giants

Jammie Thomas, a Native American from Minnesota, is one of 26,000 people the Recording Industry Association of America has sued over the past four years for alleged use of music "file-sharing" software. But she is the first to refuse to settle and has forced the music industry into a trial that could set a legal precedent. "I refuse to be bullied," she said yesterday. "I know that I did not do this, and the jury will hear that I did not do this."

Times Online, 2007, October 4th | Language: EN | 987 words

cnet

RIAA wins key victory, accused file sharer must pay $220,000

A Minnesota woman must pay $220,000 to six of the top music labels after a federal jury found on Thursday that she violated their copyright. Accused of encouraging the illegal sharing of more than 1,700 songs, Jammie Thomas, 30, elected to fight it out in court with the recording industry instead of settling for far less money. The ensuing legal battle marked the first time the recording industry has argued a file-sharing case before a jury. (...) Accused of sharing music with peer-to-peer file-sharing service, Kazaa, she argued that she didn't even own a Kazaa account. The jury didn't buy her argument. Thomas was ordered to pay $9,250 for each of the 24 songs that the RIAA concentrated on. She was initially accused of sharing 1,702 songs. The decision is important in that it sends a message to file sharers that Internet anonymity won't protect them from lawsuits, said Chris Castle, a copyright attorney and longtime music industry executive.

Cnet, 2007, October 4th | Language: EN | 1107 words

De Standaard

Sarah Bettens krijgt wind van voren

Wie binnenkort de krant 'De Morgen' koopt, krijgt er gratis en exclusief de nieuwe cd van Sarah Bettens bij. De platenwinkels protesteren: 'Hier wordt de illusie gewekt dat een cd niets waard is'. (...) Koppelverkoop, meent Fedis, de belangenbehartiger van de winkels. De vereniging dient een klacht in tegen zowel De Morgen als de platenfirma Universal.

De Standaard, 2007, October 2nd | Language: NL | 711 words

bbc

Radiohead fans to pick album cost

Radiohead fans will be able to choose how much to pay for the band's next album, In Rainbows, which is available for download on 10 October. Instead of listing a price for the music, the group's website simply states "it's up to you" - and then adds: "No really, it's up to you."

Bbc, 2007, October 2nd | Language: EN | 294 words

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