Raid 11 locations throughout Mexico City on behalf of Somexfon, the Mexican music licensing agency.
Times must be really that tough these days for the music industry for a press release by the International Phonographic Industry (IFPI) praises recent raids conducted by the Mexican Attorney General’s Office (PGR) on behalf of Somexfon, the Mexican music licensing agency, targeting business owners and DJs for playing counterfeit CDs.
Between November 7th and 21st police raided some 11 nightclubs in Mexico City between for playing music without authorization from copyright holders. The raids were carried out by around 180 police officers and officials from the Mexican Attorney General’s Office (PGR), and were supported by music industry anti-piracy experts.
IFPI’s affiliated national groups are supporting local music licensing agencies in their bid to ensure that all nightclubs operate legally. Their anti-piracy experts provide intelligence support to the music licensing agencies, investigating illegal jukeboxes, unlicensed nightclubs and other music providers that are operating illegally. Somexfon, the Mexican music licensing agency, alerted the investigators about suspect locations across the capital.
The nightclubs are expected to eventually sign agreements with Somexfon, enabling them to operate legally, as has happened in the aftermath of other recent raids in the country, but the fees (LISTED HERE) are pretty pricey in a country where the minimum wage is a mere few dollars per day.
Nightclubs are expected to pay licensing fees to play copyrighted music at a public venue, but the issue of illegally playing counterfeit CDs should raise some eyebrows.
jared@zeropaid.com
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how did they know they were fake cd’s?
what if the dj’s were playing promo’sadvance copies cd-r acetates etc of music. on top of which a lot music that gets played in clubs are tracks that have very limited runs it’s not unusual for a track to be pressed only a few hundred times sometimes less.
even if the track was acquired for via pay-to-download website does it say that on the disc…not to the best of my knowledge.
as far as i am aware dj’s are there to promote music regardless of genre…….its like refusing a surgeon to operate ’cause you don’t like the make of scapel they use…absurd