Music Downloads Lead To Criminal Arrest
Music Downloads Lead To Criminal Arrest
May 13, 2003
3 Sydney students face criminal charges for music download site.
From Australia's smh.com.au: First criminal charges of internet piracy -
Excerpt:
"Three Sydney students have become the first people in the world to appear in court facing criminal charges over internet music piracy.
Tommy Lee, 21, Charles Cok-Hau Ng, 20, and Peter Tran, 20, are accused under the Copyright Act of running a Napster-like website, Mp3 WMA land, that allowed millions of web users to swap pirated music. Record companies claim they have lost $60 million worth of sales because of the site.
The three men did not enter pleas yesterday at the Downing Centre Local Court and the case was adjourned until July 8.
If found guilty, the students may face up to five years in jail or a $60,500 fine per infringement.
Michael Speck, of the industry lobby group Music Industry Privacy Investigations, said the move to criminal action, rather than the civil action used in all previous international music piracy cases, was a reflection of a toughening in attitudes to internet-related offences."
