Deseree Stukes ([email protected])
Mon, 23 Nov 1998 13:04:42 -0500
Internet bootlegging - the survey results
The BPI has discovered more than 100 bootleg sites on the Internet as part
of a monitoring exercise to assess the impact of the web on the UK music
industry.
Using key words such as "bootleg", "trading" and "unofficial release", the
study identified 104 bootleg sites from a total of 18,000 sites analysed.
The majority were offering music by top league artists including The
Beatles, Blur and U2. The BPI now plans to make test purchases from the
bootleg sites and take action where appropriate.
The nine-week study, carried out by research firm Net Searches, also looked
at sites using short audio clips on the web. Of the 85 sites identified that
used clips of 30 seconds or less, 24 were record company sites, 15 were
operated by radio or TV broadcasters, 14 by music fans and 10 by music
retailers. Two non-music retailers were found using clips.
Some sites - such as ourselves - have obtained licences to broadcast music,
while others have not. However, Net Searchers says the range of sites
containing the clips indicates there is a widespread belief that it is legal
to carry them regardless.
BPI operations executive Jollyon Benn says, "The main point of the exercise
was to see what's out there - it wasn't a desire to stop people using music
on the Internet. But we would like to encourage people to get proper
licences."
TERMS
Audio Clips - 30-second edits of songs often used for the promotion of
Artists on Internet sites. Legal - if you have a license. Bootlegging -
Sites on the Internet offering pirate CDs for sale, often recordings of
concerts or hard to find tracks. Illegal. MP3 - Audio format which offers
almost CD quality sound with a reasonably quick download time. Legal -
however its use often is not. Trading - Sites offering to swap MP3 versions
of popular songs for copies of other songs. Illegal.
des
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