On a tip-off from the Indian Music Industry (IMI), Gujarat police conducted a raid at a shop at Bijlighar in Ahmedabad and seized a massive amount of pirated CDs, MP3s, DVDs and VCDs. Police seized 112 MP3 CDs, and 972 film DVDs during the raid.
Police has recovered titles and MP3s of various hit movies like Sanam Bewafa, Dil Ka Rishta, Tumse Accha Kaun Hai, Dil Hai Tumhara, Chandni, Bobby, Bilu Barber, Delhi-6, etc. Police has arrested the accused Hussain Madarsha Saiyed and has registered a case against him in 3118/09 PS PS Karanj, Ahmedabad.
Piracy has been evolving and expanding its footprints in India. According to IMI, physical format of piracy alone dents a loss of Rs. 600 crores annually to Indian Music Industry. Music industry is today witnessing new formats of piracy such as mobile chip piracy, which roughly estimates a loss of another Rs. 300 crores.
Commenting on the raid, Savio D'Souza, secretary general, IMI, said, "IMI is committed to its fight against piracy and will ensure that 2009 yields quality results. Indian music industry is suffering from huge losses because for piracy that not only hurts the commercial interests of licensed manufacturers but also has the potential of damaging the country's economic and social fabric. Such raids not only prove to be a benefit for the industry but also boost the morale of artists."
IMI is a consortium of over 100 music companies including several prominent regional and national labels such as Saregama, Universal Music, Tips, Venus, BMG Crescendo, Sangeetha, Sony Music, Virgin, Aditya Music, representing over 75 per cent of the output in legitimate recordings and a wide range of musical repertoire. IMI strives to protect the rights of phonogram producers and in the process promote the development of musical culture.
IMI represents the recording industry of India and is affiliated to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the world industry body having 1,450 members in 75 countries and industry organisations in 48 countries. While Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) is the exclusive copyright society engaged in the business of music licensing of the recording industry, with affiliates in 45 countries of the world.
