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RIAA Targets 12 Cities As Physical Goods Piracy "Hot Spots"
May 3, 2006 at 5:24 PM (PT)
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The RIAA has identified 12 priority cities as part of its nationwide physical goods piracy assessment. These cities -- ATLANTA, AUSTIN, CHICAGO, DALLAS, HOUSTON, LOS ANGELES, MIAMI, NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, PROVIDENCE, SAN DIEGO, and SAN FRANCISCO -- are all "hot spots" of music theft, with significant piracy problems from the manufacturer level all the way down to the point of retail sale. The RIAA plans on stepping up law enforcement training and committing additional investigative resources in all of these cities in the coming year.
"As the pirate music trade continues to evolve, criminals are enhancing their products and attempting to dupe consumers with illegal CDs that look authentic," said RIAA EVP/Anti-Piracy BRAD BUCKLES. "This is a disturbing trend. The music community loses hundreds of millions of dollars each year to physical piracy. Today’s sophisticated pirate trade demands even greater awareness and action from us, our partners in the music community, law enforcement and music fans. When consumers buy the real thing, everyone wins -- not only the fan who bought a high-quality CD but music stores, artists, record labels and everyone else involved in making music."

