Australian 'RIAA' wants in on sentencing

Michael Speck, boss of Australia's Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI), denies collaboration between it and the RIAA in a recent court case in which three people admitted to criminal charges over online music piracy.

Interviewed by ZDNet Australia, Speck was discussing the case involving Tommy Le, Peter Tran and Charles Kok Hau Ng, all of whom were charged by the Australian Federal Police after a "joint investigation" with MIPI.

ZDNet Australia quotes Speck as saying the next significant step in the Australian case would occur by 29 September, before which MPIP would "serve evidence to the court about the sentencing, the impact of the crime and the cost of the alleged activity".

The record label unit would, "also be filing evidence about its right to appear in the case, with the magistrate set to decide on 1 October whether the antipiracy unit can appear. Sentencing is scheduled for 10 November."

Speck is quoted as saying, "We will be concerned that any penalty reflects the criminality."

Based in Sydney, MIPI is is a purely commercial entity with purely commercial interests. It's owned by the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) and, hence, the record labels.

That it routinely works hand-in-glove with a national police force and, worse, may also be involved in sentencing considerations, is another indicator of the alarming power now wielded by the international entertainment industry.