Heat goes on music piracy

An international investigator into music piracy says organised crime is behind 65 to 75 per cent of global music piracy, and New Zealand cannot expect to avoid criminal involvement.

Former Hong Kong policeman Iain Grant is here to help the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand's campaign against CD piracy.

The Burn and Get Burnt campaign aims to make people aware of CD piracy.

Mr Grant heads 55 enforcement officers with the London-based International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

He said music piracy gave crime syndicates an easy way to make money for activities such as drug and arms running.

CD piracy made about $US5 billion ($11.2 billion) a year internationally. The music industry here believed it cost New Zealand $95 million a year.

"My gut feel after five years of chasing these pirates is that between 65 and 75 per cent of music piracy has an organised crime element to it," Mr Grant said.

He said it would be naive of New Zealand to think organised crime was not involved in CD piracy in this country.

The world capacity for CDs was about 26 billion discs a year. Legitimate consumption was around 16 billion, and the 10 billion difference tempted disc manufacturers to supply commercial quantities to criminals.

"As we put the heat on in one country, the criminals move to another."

Mr Grant's group provides training, forensic services, technical support services backed by litigation lawyers and a database of pirated product world-wide.

"By closely examining a pirated disc, we can pretty well tell where it is made," he said.