IFPI tracks unauthorised Depeche Mode pre-release download to Poland

LONDON, UK (IFPI) - Police in Poland have arrested a Polish individual alleged to have accessed a secure pre-release video copy of the new Depeche Mode single Precious and made it available for public download without authorisation.

The police action followed investigations by IFPI, representing the recording industry internationally, and Polish recording industry group ZPAV after a link to the video was found posted on a Polish internet site in July.

IFPI and ZPAV worked with Depeche Mode's record label Mute and its parent company EMI to remove the link which was first posted online publicly on a forum site used by Depeche Mode fans.

IFPI then examined a German server, on which the video had been posted originally, with strictly controlled access. After analysing the data, numerous attempts to download the video were identified as coming from a specific internet address in Kielce, Poland.

On the basis of the evidence, a search warrant was issued by the Kielce District Prosecutor and the raid carried out yesterday (August 17) in conjunction with representatives from ZPAV and EMI. Police from the Unit for Combating Intellectual Property and Internet Crimes removed two computers and a number of burned discs found at the searched premises for further examination.

Jeremy Banks, head of IFPI's Internet Anti-Piracy Unit says: "This action shows just how seriously the record companies view pre-release piracy. Pre-releases can be illegally posted, downloaded and distributed worldwide within hours. So it is crucial for the recording industry's cycle of reinvestment to prevent initial sales being lost to internet piracy. The success of this operation should underline that the recording industry internationally will not hesitate to pursue perpetrators - wherever they are based."

For further information please contact Fiona Harley at IFPI Communications on tel: +44 (0)20 7878 790