FOR RELEASE: May 20, 2005
RIAA
COMMENDS NYPD ON ANTI-PIRACY ACTIONS
Recording
Industry Investigators Assist Law Enforcement in Raid Resulting in the
Seizure of 25,000 Counterfeit CD-Rs, Nine Arrests
WASHINGTON
– [Investigators from the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) today assisted the New
York Police Department (NYPD) with an investigation into a group
of illegal music distributors that had been operating from inside a
storage facility located at 9-11 West 141st Street in Manhattan. The
investigation led to the execution of multiple search warrants in
several storage units that contained more than 25,000 counterfeit CD-Rs
and 35,000 counterfeit DVDs. Nine individuals were arrested and charged
with Trademark Counterfeiting in the 2nd degree and failure to disclose
the origin of a recording in the 1st degree. In response, the RIAA
issued the following statement from Brad Buckles, Executive Vice
President for Anti-Piracy.]
“Once again, the NYPD has demonstrated
a solid commitment to eradicating the tremendous piracy problem that
continues to plague our streets. The only way to beat this problem is
to attack it persistently with a strong, united front. The success of
today’s operation should send a clear message to all those engaged in
the illegal music trade: piracy is theft and will be treated with zero
tolerance.”
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The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade group that represents
the U.S. recording industry. Its mission is to foster
a business and legal climate that supports and promotes our members'
creative and financial vitality. Its members are the record companies
that comprise the most vibrant national music industry in the world.
RIAA members create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 90% of
all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States.
In support of this mission, the RIAA works to
protect intellectual property rights worldwide and the First Amendment
rights of artists; conduct consumer industry and technical research;
and monitor and review - - state and federal laws, regulations and
policies. The RIAA also certifies Gold®, Platinum®,
Multi-Platinum™, and Diamond® sales awards, and recently launched
Los Premios De Oro y Platino™, a new award celebrating Latin music
sales.
