Major crackdown on organised illegal burning ring in Italy

500 CD and DVD burners confiscated; nine people charged

October 29, 2003

Police in Italy have dismantled a major organised ring involved in the mass duplication of music, movies and software. The raids, in the Naples area, struck a significant blow against organised CD-R and DVD burning and distribution in the country.

The raids followed months of investigation, and involved 50 of Italy's Fiscal Police who located and seized six undercover burning laboratories in the suburbs of Naples on October 24. The raids netted 496 CD and DVD burners, including 200 CD burners found at one location.

Over 60,000 burned CDs and DVDs ready for distribution throughout Italy were also found. They included the latest film and music titles, such as Tomb Raiders II and The Best Of R.E.M In Time.

The value of related equipment, including computers, burned CDs and DVDs and blank discs is estimated at hundreds of thousands of Euros.

Nine people have been charged with criminal copyright law infringement.

Enzo Mazza, president of FPM, said: "This anti-piracy operation represents a very important step in the fight against an illegal trade that in Italy alone generates huge fiscal and cultural damage to the movie, music and software industries, as well as the loss of thousands of jobs and loss of taxes to government. This will represent a significant blow to the organised groups involved in mass copying of music, movie and software in the country."

The BSA (Business Software Alliance), FAPAV (the Italian branch of the Motion Picture Association) and FPM (the Italian anti-piracy group) assisted on the raids.

IFPI represents the recording industry internationally with over 1,500 member companies in 76 countries.

For further information contact
Enzo Mazza at FPM on +39 (02) 795 879 or
Fiona Harley at IFPI on tel: +44 (0)20 7878 7900