Naples court imposes heavy jail sentences for music pirates

Naples,ITA. (Top40 Charts/ FIMI) - The Court of Appeal in Naples has imposed heavy jail sentences on members of an organised gang involved in a major music piracy case. Members of the gang were arrested in 1999 after an investigation carried out by Luciano D'Angelo, the district anti-mafia attorney, and the police, with the assistance of FPM, the Italian music industry's anti-piracy unit.

The head of the organisation, 'A.C.', was known as 'The Emperor' because of his market share in the pirate music business in Naples during the 1990s. The appeal sentence is the final decision in a seven year legal battle that has seen FIMI, the Italian recording industry body, and record companies including EMI Music Italy, Universal Music Italy, Sony BMG Italy and Warner Music Italy acting as plaintiffs.

'A.C.' was found guilty and sentenced to three years and six months in jail for conspiracy to violate the copyright law. Seven other members of the gang faced prison sentences of between one year and six months and three years.

The judge ordered the organised gang to pay compensation and damages to the plaintiffs which will be agreed in a separate civil claim.