p2pnet - rss feed: Record label cops
Anyone who doubts the major record labels routinely use national and regional police forces to act with, and for, them for purely commercial purposes has but to go to the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) website.
The BPI is the UK national group of the IFPI (International Federation of Phonographic Industry), the record labels’ international enforcement arm run by ex-RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) boss Jay Berman.
BPI Investigators In Pre-Xmas Crack Down On Pirates, boasts the trade organ here, going on:
"The BPI has stepped up its country-wide action on music piracy to coincide with the busy Christmas period, conducting over 20 major raids and seizing over £2,500,000 worth of illegal material in the process. Further raids are planned at 10 more secret locations before the end of the year."
Who gave this purely commercial organization owned by the international music industry the authority to conduct police-like "major raids" and make seizures?
"The anti-piracy unit, collaborating with Police and other enforcement bodies across the UK started the crackdown with a raid on a well-known market trader in Liverpool on the last day of November," it goes on. "Other major results followed with raids in north Lanarkshire & Stranraer in Scotland, Wembley, Caerphilly in south Wales, County Durham and many other locations across the UK.
BPI Director of anti-piracy David Martin says, "I am expecting to hit further targets in the next few weeks to hopefully reduce the availability of pirated product on the streets."
I am expecting to hit further targets?
Who is this guy and which police force does he work for?
