By RT
The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) who had filed criminal charges against four individuals linked to the popular internet website company, Audiomaxxx.com Ltd., has succeeded in getting the Canadian authorities to slap a “cease and desist” order on the company due to its alleged music counterfeiting operations.
Audiomaxxx.com Ltd. has, in the past couple of years, grown to become one of the most popular websites for downloading, selling and distributing music CDs, particularly dancehall music, to Canada, Europe, the U.S.A and Jamaica. Audiomaxxx.com was shutdown last week after a yearlong investigation by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA).
Reggae Times learnt that Audiomaxxx.com’s Canadian office was raided and arrests and seizures were carried out. CRIA initially, on March 6, 2008, stated in a press release that Raj Singh Ramgotra, Audiomaxxx.com’s major owner was among four persons arrested by the Canadian Police.
On the allegation that the company has been involved in the unlawful manufacturing and distribution of pirated compact discs, hardcore pornographic videos and digital downloads. However, on March 7, 2008, the CRIA published another press release on its website saying that the previous statement was an error and that the names of the persons arrested were not released.
More than over 200,000 music CDs and DVDs were estimated to have been confiscated. Thousands of blank discs, including several CD/DVD burning towers were also among the items seized. Other items also taken during the raid were computers, printers, hard drives, copiers and other office equipment that are said to possess the ability to easily produce over 10,000 CDs and DVDs daily.
The CRIA took a zero tolerance approach to Audiomaxxx.com’s activities and decided to treat the matter with the utmost seriousness and urgency after receiving numerous complaints from musicians, producers and other independent labels located in Canada, the U.S.A and Jamaica. Several attempt to get Audiomaxxx.com Ltd to cease its illegal operations, proved futile, so their operations were brought down forcefully by the CRIA last week.
The CRIA has now added Audiomaxxx.com Ltd to the list of breakthroughs it has made since its operations started just over a year ago. The shutting down of Audiomaxxx.com Ltd will be no surprise, and will be very welcomed by many Jamaican musicians, artistes and producers. Deejay Vybz Kartel will be especially happy as he did a song recently lashing out at the illegal actions of Ramgotra.
Audiomaxxx.com Ltd had been at the brunt of numerous wed blogs posted on the internet warning against its activities, accusing the company of outright stealing of music without remitting a dime to the deserving artistes, producers and musicians.
Audiomaxxx.com Ltd is suspected of being one of Canada’s leading counterfeiters and although there are many others known to be out there, the CRIA is positive that the shutting down of Audiomaxxx.com Ltd has sent a strong message to all other such illegal entities.
