Crackdown on Russian CD piracy

[MikeHunt]

Crackdown on Russian CD piracy

An international record industry body has filed claims of over $1m (£559,000) against a Russian firm said to have made counterfeit CDs.

The International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI) says Roff Technologies made the discs.

The IFPI has filed the compensation claims totalling $1.4m (£776,000) on behalf of its members.

IFPI chairman Jay Berman said they were determined to address the threat of illegal plants from Russia.

The IFPI members have also asked Roff Technologies to stop any further production of the titles alleged to have been illegally made, and for the confiscation of machinery and equipment involved.

The counterfeit discs are said to be by artists including Christina Aguilera, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Fun Justin Timberlake, U2 and Missy Elliot.

It is the second major set of claims filed against a Russian CD plant since the IFPI announced plans to target Russian plants believed to be supplying the country's lucrative trade in pirate discs.

A preliminary hearing for one of the claims was held on 3 March and another has been set for 15 March.

Six more claims are currently with the Moscow City Appeal Court over a procedural issue before preliminary dates can be set.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/ente...ent/3503358.stm

[Malicious Intent]

When I was in Russia a few years ago, there were copied CDs everywhere. To make it worse our Visas meant that we couldn't leave the tour group. The tour guide clearly had his fingers in the traders pockets as we were dragged around the "authentic local markets" between each stop. The traders also would except anything but US$. Mecrifully some of them gave away a free shot of vodka if you bought more than 2 CDs, else I wouldn't have felt like I was in Russia at all.