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Marines Take Down Iraqi Piracy RingThe RIAA's war on music pirates nets paydirt in Iraq
David Allandale, an RIAA spokesman, praised the USMC/RIAA joint operation, called "Operation Iraqster," by proclaiming Iraq free from "unlawful downloaders and ne'er do wells." Indeed, dozens of men were hustled away in military custody after the raid that shut down an illegal MP3 downloading operation being carried on in central Baghdad.
The RIAA has been cracking down on music piracy ever since file sharing programs like Napster, Kazaa, and Morpheus gained popularity, allowing users to download music from each other's computers. Efforts to shut down the illegal file sharing in the United States have had mixed results. The RIAA effectively shut down Napster, but replacements like Kazaa, LimeWire, and Morpheus still flourish. "We felt like we could really slam the door on Iraqi piracy," said Allandale. "By making an example of them, we've actually done them a favor. We've educated them on how the legal system in America works. They may not have water or utilities but they now live in a copyright-protected zone." Iraqi President Paul Bremer was pleased with the result of the successful operation. "What we've proven today is that with guns, military-styled tactics, and the RIAA, we can put an end to illegal file sharing," said a proud Bremer. Two marines suffered mild injuries in carrying out Operation Iraqster. One marine stepped on a pile of CD-Rs, tripping and banging his head on a computer desk. Another was scratched by a woman who hit him with her computer mouse as he tried to unplug her internet connection. No RIAA personnel were injured in the raid. |
The United States has finally gained a lasting victory in
Iraq -- but not one involving Saddam Hussein or troops loyal
to him. This victory comes over music pirates. With the
help of U.S. marines, the Recording Industry Association of
America announced a successful crackdown on Iraqi music
thieves masquerading as Muslim clerics.
"They were using computers, using an Iraqi version of
the Kazaa software, and downloading all kinds of copyrighted
music," explained Allandale. "Some of them had the latest
Madonna music, others had Britney Spears and Christina
Aguilera. One guy even had the latest John Mayer song."