Media News - Thursday, September 09, 2010

Belgian authorities target 12 European countries in online piracy raids

Brussels officials arrested five people in connection with raids conducted against four Internet piracy rings. The groups caused up to 6 billion euros in lost revenue, prosecutors have said. Following police raids that led to the seizure of computer servers in 12 European countries on Tuesday, Belgian authorities provided details on Wednesday about the scope, economic impact, and type of content they uncovered after breaking up four Internet piracy rings. The two-year investigation targeted the "four groups most responsible for making available 80 percent of Dutch language television and film production or foreign language media sub-titled in Dutch," according to a statement also released Wednesday by the prosecutor's office. Forty-eight servers were seized in a dozen countries across Europe, including Germany, France, Norway, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Sweden. Ten people the prosecutor's statement identified as the leaders of the four groups were also questioned in Belgium, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Five of the 10 were arrested and charged with participating in a criminal organization and copyright infringement. (Deutsche Welle)

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