We have paralegals, research experts, music, movie and software professionals,
licensed private investigators and skilled computer operators on call to serve
you. We specialize in the field of anti-piracy operations and have contacts
worldwide to assist us.
Investigate
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Coordinate
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Overviews
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Scenarios
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Why GrayZone?
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Accomplishments
- Investigate and Identify
- Quickly, quietly and in a cost effective manner.
Our first task is to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the
extent of the problem.
We draw upon our many contacts in the music business and retain the services of a research
consultant who is knowledgeable on your artist. Working with your own in-house experts and
consultants, we design a database from which we can begin to ascertain a course of action.
Edited portions of these databases are distributed to various law enforcement
concerns (such as customs, FBI, IRS and other worldwide tax agencies) as well
as music industry agencies (such as IFPI, RIAA, CRIA, ARIA, et al.)
We keep track of information like: alleged licensees, SID codes, bar codes,
matrix numbers, distinguishing marks and characteristics, track listings,
quality, volume, price, release data and distributors. We even have a
comprehensive list of independent record shops worldwide who offer bootlegs
for sale.
We scan all product we collect, and make these graphic files available to
the appropriate agencies. For instance, do you know that virtually all
bootleg, pirate and counterfeit compact discs arrive at a customs
port of entry on spindles (compact discs are stacked on a pole) and
not in their jewel cases? Many disc do not list the bootlegged act
as it would be too obvious and could possibly tip off authorities.
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Organize and Coordinate
Solving the issues can be a logistical and time-consuming ordeal.
We have the skills and connections to work with the worldwide agencies
related to your circumstance.
Once we have assembled our facts and figures related to your artist,
we organize the information in a manner that is accessible and manageable
for our respective contacts. We advise them of specific recommended
targets: bootleg manufacturers, distributors, Internet sites, independent
record shops and record fairs. We draft the proper paperwork needed and
secure the appropriate legal documents to initiate action. We are informed
of actions already in progress and can lobby the agencies of clients'
desire to receive more direct attention to their specific issues. We
keep you informed of all activities and take no action that you deem
inappropriate or unnecessary.
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Provide an Overview
We distribute to our clients a monthly digest that
summarizes events in the world of anti-piracy operations. Much of the
information we compile relates to recent bootleg, pirate and counterfeit
raids, seizures and arrests. We try to keep informed of novel legal
issues, precedent setting cases and other interesting items pertaining
to recent changes in the general field of copyright/trademark infringement.
Over time, you'll notice throughout the digests how our work with you
fits into the larger picture within the world of anti-piracy events.
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Typical Scenarios
On Thursday, October 3, 1996 the International Federation of Phonographic
Industry (IFPI) secured an attachment on a shipment of 36,500 bootleg
compact discs from a Luxembourg court. The compact discs, manufactured and
distributed by an Italian company, Kiss the Stone, were seized by Luxembourg
Customs during a routine inspection.
From the moment the court granted IFPI the right to inspect the shipments,
a clock began to tick. In most cases, customs allows a narrow window
of two to three weeks (occasionally granting an extension for
additional limited time) for these inspections.
IFPI contacted GrayZone with an urgent request for numerous affidavits
from our clients at major record labels, attesting to the fact our clients had
not authorized this notorious bootleg label to manufacture the
product in question. GrayZone worked around the clock to ensure that the
deadline was met so that the contraband product could be seized for an
indefinite period and used in a criminal court proceeding against
Kiss The Stone.
It was no problem for us because we have all the necessary affidavits
for many worldwide territories on file and know precisely what IFPI
and its affiliates require because we have been working with them since
1990 on timely matters such as the one described above. Please note
that these seizures occur on a routine basis. GrayZone is poised at all
times to meet the urgent deadlines imposed by customs agencies around the world.
As you probably know only too well, it is easiest to generate documents
(like affidavits) from your department at the record label on behalf of
your major artists. You can execute them from the convenience of your
offices. This is standard operating procedure for most piracy matters.
However, with the proliferation of bootlegs, both on the Information Highway
and in the 'real" world, your sworn statement on behalf of the record label is
not sufficient. Powers of Attorneys must be secured directly from the
artists.
There are currently 24 territories worldwide that have agencies in place to
combat piracy. GrayZone coordinates all logistics (a daunting task) with
respect to these agencies in securing these fully executed documents from the
artists. We have cultivated the trust of prominent artist managers during the
course of our business. By streamlining our efforts between the record
labels, the anti-piracy agencies, the artist managers and their
lawyers/advisers, we are able to efficiently coordinate these tedious tasks
with minimal frustration for all concerned.
Once we've secured the signatures on the documents, we also coordinate all
administrative tasks thereafter: certify notary signatures, obtain apostilles
and forward to respective agencies.
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Why Bother With GrayZone When You Can Use the RIAA and IFPI?
Simply put: GrayZone is the missing link in the difficult science
of anti-piracy operations.
Consider that these agencies are in place to serve the interest of their
clients, which include all the major labels, many independent labels,
producers and artists. The benefit you derive from these agencies is
that they organize their efforts for the good of all, to the exclusion of
few.
Their clients (such as Warner Brothers, Atlantic, Elektra, Sony, Polygram)
make substantial contributions to these agencies on a regular basis.
GrayZone helps make these contributions work to the benefit of our
clients. We save our clients a fortune in legal fees by not only
investigating claims, but preparing the case files from which the agencies can
draw pertinent details, to providing the proper legal documentation
that is vital to the implementation of most actions the agencies may
undertake.
GrayZone always works with these agencies and rarely undertakes action
apart from them. We enhance their work, and provide them with supplementary
tools (research, leads, legal documents) to make the process more efficient
and, ultimately, cost effective for all.
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Recent Accomplishments
Grayzone with IFPI Anti-Bootleg Program an Ongoing Success.
Securing the proper legal documents is critical to the overall success of our
anti-piracy efforts. Since we initiated this campaign with one of our
clients, a major entertainment company, and in collaboration with IFPI,
GrayZone has secured over 120 Powers of Attorney (POAs) related to anti-piracy
operations.
In fact, we have obtained more signatures on POAs from major international
recording acts than all the other major entertainment companies combined!
Bootleg Capital Brought to a Halt: GrayZone Contributes
On July 2, 1996, key New York City bootleg manufacturers and distributors
found themselves face-to-face with New York State Attorney General,
Dennis Vacco, local law enforcement and RIAA officials when major raids
took place in and around the New York City area. Using our contraband
databases, we provided the RIAA with detailed information concerning
bootlegs available at these high profile New York locations.
(See the July/August Digest for details.)
Our In-Depth Investigations Get Results
We've been involved in many major investigations and have contributed to the
demise of several significant contraband operations. Here are a few
highlights:
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- A Special Note to Attorneys:
- We are not here to replace you. We are trained to work with you,
following your directives and responding to your initiatives. In fact, the majority of the time,
we deal with attorneys who have been instructed by their clients to resolve a contraband matter.
Do not hesitate to contact us at services@grayzone.com today.
- GrayZone, Inc.
- We can help you Beat the Boots!!
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