In the future, UK web pirates may be banned from net

Britons who illegally download mp3s or movies may have their internet rights revoked if legislative proposals introduced this week are passed. The new laws would require ISPs, or Internet Service Providers, to take legal action against any users known to be downloading, The Times of London reports.

The proposed policy follows the "three strikes you're out" mantra; Net users would be given a warning for the initial offense, a suspension of their contract for the second, and a compelet dissolution of their internet contract on the third illegal download. The government is also considering taking legal action against any ISPs who don't adhere to this policy.

With a piracy market reaching over 21.6 Billion GBP per year, talks between ISPs, the government, and the record industry have been ensuing for years.

“We welcome the signal from Government that it values the health of the creative industries and takes seriously the damage caused by widespread online copyright infringement," says
Roz Groome, vice-president of anti piracy for NBC Universal. "We call upon ISPs to take action now. They must play their part in the fight against online piracy and work with rights owners to ensure that ISPs’ customers do not use their services for illegal activity. Piracy stifles innovation and threatens the long term health of our industry.”

Personally, we feel there are so many innovative legal ways to get your music we don't see the point of risking it by going the other way. Free sites like Musicovery or Pandora allow users to create innovative playlists based on mood, song/artist preference, or even tempo. And companies such as eMusic sell records long since out of rotation, many of which are so obscure iTunes doesn't carry them. Even the structure of the record industry is changing, with the guys at Engadget and Downtown records launching Rcrd Lbl, an online resource that gives you the music free while still offering payment to the artists.

Photo Credit

Canadian Authorities Seize Counterfeit Hair Irons

Much is done in the name of beauty. But using counterfeit hair irons to look chic on the cheap? Authorities in the Quebec City region of Canada say some consumers unwittingly did just that; the police announced a seizure of 4,500 fake hair straightening irons last Tuesday. The raid was held on January 15 after a months-long investigation beginning in March 2007.

Click here to read the full story on our Style Blog, and find out why the effects of fakes on the fritz are not so beautiful.

Photo Credit

First Arab Anti-Counterfeiting Consumer Forum

The first Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum (ACBPF) has been planned by Saudi Arabian consumer organization Hemaya Universal. It was announced at the opening of the 4th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, a summit which will continue until February 5.

The 4th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy was held by the World Customs Organization and Dubai Customs, and also attended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), INTERPOL, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Trademarks Association (INTA) and the International Security Management Association (ISMA).

ACBPF will take place in Jeddah on 19-22 of October 2008, with attendance by HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, the Governor of Makkah. "The Arab League has aligned its efforts with Hemaya Universal to host the conference as a first step towards efforts to combat the epidemic of counterfeiting," said Assistant General Secretary of the Arab League for Economic Affairs Dr. Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al-Tuwaijri.

"Hemaya has courageously begun to protect consumers from commercial fraud, in addition to helping secure intellectual property rights in the Arab region.” he noted.

Ahmed bin Suleiman Al-Zubeidi, CEO of Hemaya Universal, noted this consumer awareness campaign is unparalleled in the Middle East, and will help raise the alarm on dangerous counterfeit goods. He emphasized that the economies of Arab nations are being threatened by counterfeits, and as this continues, forums like ACBPF are necessary.

For more information on the Forum, visit arabworldprotect.com.

Las Vegas Counterfeiter Enslaves Children in Sex Trade

An anti-counterfeiting researcher forwarded The Authentics Foundation an article from 2007 which we had previously not been aware of. On March 10, 2007, Mike Tobin of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote a piece titled "Las Vegas man admits arranging sex tourism." It outlined the shocking case of Russell Herman, 52, who plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Cleveland "to charges he operated a business that arranged for tourists to visit brothels with underage girls in Thailand."

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement first began investigating Herman in December 2005 because of a website on which he sold counterfeit Gucci, Prada and Rolex merchandise. Investigators then realized this counterfeiter was also arranging "for tourists to have sex with girls as young as 12. Many of the girls were kept padlocked in cells unless they were having sex, according to court documents."

"The ICE agent contacted Herman and asked about the availability of girls between the ages of 10 and 14, according to court documents. Herman replied, "Thailand is a lot of fun and you'll experience some incredible things here!!!"

Another ICE agent called Herman in November 2006 and said he was interested in traveling to Thailand, where Herman was living. Herman said that for $1,000, he would take the agent to a hotel where 15-year-old girls would be brought to the undercover agent's room.

A few days later, Herman met the undercover agent and took him to several places where they were solicited for sex. Some of the girls appeared to be as young as 12, the ICE agent said in court documents."

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer