DJ receives biggest fine for illegal downloading
Posted by robbo on Tuesday, November 30, 1999

Rome police have fined a DJ a record €1.4 million for using hundreds of pirate music files in a club in the Italian city. The DJ was found in possession of more than 2,000 MP3 music files suspected to be illegal downloads and some 500 video clips.

The fine is the biggest to be imposed on an individual in Europe for the unlawful copying and use of copyrighted music in the MP3 format. The DJ may also be subject to further criminal sanctions.

Enzo Mazza, director of the Italian music industry association FIMI says, "We are pleased with the fine imposed by the Rieti Fiscal police. This DJ was touring clubs and making money out of the music he played – while those who had invested time, talent, hard work and money into creating the music in the first place did not get a cent. We hope this precedent will serve as a deterrent for those who are thinking of doing the same."

The operation is targeting radio stations and clubs around the region, and is being led by the Fiscal Police. In addition to the MP3s and music video clips found, a large quantity of audiovisual material and software were also seized.