There are positive signs that China is taking action against pirates. A series of recent raids on Beijing stores selling pirate CDs and tapes, as well as a high profile benefit concert, were the first visible results of an unprecedented joint effort by Chinese music companies to fight piracy. Illegal Web Site Customs officers have closed down a web site in the territory allegedly offering illegal downloads. Three men were arrested as a result of the action. It is the first case where officials detected an illegal site for downloading pirated music since the start of the Anti-Internet Piracy Task Force.
Individuals face minimum fines or imprisonment, or both.
Despite an agreement signed by President Clinton and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma to bring the piracy problem in that country under control, it's as bad as ever. So says IFPI after an October visit to Kiev. Bill 1999 was passed by the Senate in late August and is expected to become law within the next six months. Not Liable for Bootlegs San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stuart Pollak in San Francisco County has rejected a lawsuit against eBay, charging that the online auction house knowingly sells illegally made recordings. The judge said that under federal law, Internet companies are not responsible for how third parties use their services.