James Delahunty
29 Jul 2005 13:39
Following last months raids on members Internet "warez" groups, the US authorities have charged eight people in connection with the illegal trading of copyrighted films, music, games and software over the net. The operation spanned over 15 countries worldwide including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Portugal, the UK and the US. Operation Site Down was aimed at the top members of warez groups.
"The charges strike at the top of the copyright piracy supply chain", said Acting Assistant Attorney General John C Richter. "Cases like these are part of the Justice Department's coordinated strategy to protect copyright owners from the online thieves who steal and then sell the products they work so hard to produce." The Justice Department say the defendants were leading members of major piracy groups in the "warez scene".
According to the Justice Department, as soon as games, software, movies etc… are released, a group makes digital pirate copies which spread to servers around the world in very little time. This is where most of the material on P2P networks originates. "This FBI Charlotte undercover operation was very successful in identifying and collecting evidence against those individuals who were the primary source of pirated digital material around the globe," said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Clifford. "Those committing the cyber crimes can be identified and located anywhere in the world," he said.
Source:
BBC News