Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Man Arrested as OiNK is Shut Down
A massive piracy investigation by British and Dutch police has resulted in the closure of the OiNK file-sharing website and the arrest of a 24-year-old man. During the investigation, properties in Amsterdam and Teeside were searched. Officers located the server in Amsterdam, whereas the 24-year-old accused was arrested at a property in Middlesborough.
Before its closure, OiNK was widely regarded as the world’s biggest file-sharing community for pre-release albums. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) believed OiNK was responsible for leaking “more than 60 major album releases… so far this year.” After an album leaked, OiNK actively encouraged members to distribute the files via blogs, file-sharing software and websites. This meant that pre-release music became widely available very quickly. An OiNK spokesperson said, “Within a few hours of a popular pre-release track being posted on the OiNK site, hundreds of copies can be found further down the illegal online supply chain.”
Pre-release piracy is a massive problem for record companies, as it often leads to unfinished tracks and mixes being released online. Because many of these tracks need to be completed, they often sound rough and can damage the reputation of an artist. Like regular music piracy, pre-release piracy can also lead to a massive loss in revenue.
OiNK was a private, members-only file-sharing community, which worked on an invitation-only basis. A Cleveland Police spokesperson said that members “paid ‘donations' via debit or credit cards, ensuring their continued access to the site.” To retain their membership, members were also asked to constantly prove their worth to the community by regularly uploading illegal pre-release albums for distribution.
The site was thought to have around 180,000 members, although it is unknown whether any will face prosecution.
Sources:
BBC
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
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