A report published by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) yesterday revealed that the total number of illegal CDs sold worldwide topped the one billion mark for the first time in 2002, making the illegal music market worth £2.8bn globally. The report postulated that two out of every five CDs or cassettes sold are illegal.
Peter Jamieson, executive director of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), said: "What we have faced in the last three years is an explosion worldwide in the number of unlicensed optical disc plants. If you factor in unlicensed downloads then only one in three music products in the UK is authorised."
Bootlegging is on the increase because the technology to reproduce CDs and cover artwork is better and cheaper. That said as bootlegging increases so does the battle against it – the number of illegal CD copying machines seized from around the world each year went from 4,000 to 7,000 in 2001. The problem is most of the bootlegging happens in countries where the record labels have less influence. The IFPI is calling on countries to aggressively prosecute offenders, seize their equipment and to seek compensation for copyright holders as a deterrent piracy. The ten countries that top the IFPI's list of targets are China, Mexico, Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Spain, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine.