MIPI Backs Up Anti-piracy Raid in Melbourne

As AfterDawn informs, yesterday, Victoria Police initialized a raid targeting a music retailer in Sydney Road, Brunswick in Melbourne, confiscating thousands of allegedly pirated material in the form of CDs and DVDs. Apparently, the raid was a great success and a “preview” for the launch of Operation Rein in the Rip Offs. After the police explored the location more than five thousand discs put blatantly for sale were removed.

The one behind such a nationwide operation is none other than Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI) currently going after retailers involved in illegitimate music selling across Australia deceiving consumers and causing great damage to record companies, songwriters, artists and legitimate music retailers.

Sabiene Heindl, General Manager of MIPI, emphasized their firm position against piracy and its implications saying that "This proactive raid by the Victorian Police signals the start of a national campaign by the Australian music industry to crack down on rogue traders that are damaging the music industry and ripping off consumers by selling pirate music. No matter where they are located, we will find illegal traders that are selling pirate music and take appropriate enforcement action."

To have no more doubts about MIPI’s determination here are some suggestive data – fines for copyright violation go up to $60,500 per individual and up to $302,500 for corporation, plus, detention period reaches 5 years per individual for each offense.

In the same respect, Ian Harvey, Executive Director of the Australian Music Retailers Association (AMRA) referred to numerous Australian music retailers for who is practically impossible to compete with pirating big retailers that are putting up for sale low quality music products at smaller prices because they are mainly small family businesses.