AfterDawn: News

Virgin France Sued for Music Piracy

The French arm of media giant Virgin Records, VirginMega France is being sued for illegally obtaining a copy of Madonna's song "Hung Up" and redistributing it for sale on their website.

The courts found VirginMega in clear violation of an exclusive deal reached by Warner Music France with France Telecom and Orange. With the courts ruling, VirginMega has been ordered to pay fines in excess of 600,000 euros ($754,266; £414,147).



Herve Payan of France's Telecom stated "This is an amazing case of simple piracy by a respected company.

Virgin behaved in a surreal manner by downloading the song, cracking protection measures and then selling it from their own web site." VirginMega however says it broke the terms of the agreement to serve the best interests of it's consumers.

Source:
BBC News

Written by: Dave Horvath @ 28 Jun 2006 8:15

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• 15 comments

• hot_ice

  Well, I believe virgin probably made more profit than they had to pay in fines. I also believe a company that has the best interests of its consumers is a good direction for any company.
  
  

  28.6.2006 08:23 #1

• gogochar

  Quote:Virgin behaved in a surreal manner by downloading the song, cracking protection measures and then selling it from their own web site.Well, isn't this a surprise? NOT! I just wonder how many other companies have been doing this same thing? I bet Microsoft did the same thing!

  28.6.2006 08:42 #2

• ofolion

  What did they accutally do then?
  
  Where they just disterbuting it without a liscence?
  
  Suprising to think Virgin did this...i always think of them as quite a respectable company

  28.6.2006 08:48 #3

• GrayArea

  "I believe virgin probably made more profit than they had to pay in fines."
  
  $754,266? In profits? Off one song? A crappy song(IMHO)?
  Maybe.
  I suppose if they were not paying the copyright "owners" anything at all they might have grossed that much. If these idiots did not make stupid "exclusive" (think about what that word really means) deals this kind of thing would be much less of a problem.

  28.6.2006 08:53 #4

• Nick600

  Whoever got the idea to do this at Virgin is in trouble... :D

  28.6.2006 10:28 #5

• hot_ice

  Anyways, its a crappy Madonna song, so you're probably right gray area. I never liked Madonna, she flip flops on who she is as a person, more than a politician who flips flops on crucial issues regarding the state. Truthfully, both are equally unsavoury in my opinion.
  
  So probably, the song did not make as much money as the fines themselves, but who knows, a lot of people Mahonna.

  28.6.2006 12:19 #6

• hot_ice

  Like Madonna, not Mahonna. oops

  28.6.2006 12:21 #7

• Steve83

  "VirginMega however says it broke the terms of the agreement to serve the best interests of it's consumers."
  
  {First off: I hope Virgin didn't actully misspell "its" in its press release.}
  
  Can I use that defense if I pirate some intellectual property from Virgin? Like if I use their logo to sell music on my website, but I want people to think they're buying from Virgin? I'm a Virgin consumer, and this would be in MY best interest... That's what they want, right?

  29.6.2006 19:23 #8

• ZippyDSM

  hot_ice
  *nods nods*
  Modonna is a elite and beign a elite she can change personityes at the drop of a hat and can affond to blow in the wind....thats the problem with the "rich" they can do anyhting without being forced from the clouds while we are on the ground trying to scrape by....mmmm I think I ahve found another issues I have *L* (,I ahve issues with sex,with BS in moives and games and now with rich people) *L*

  30.6.2006 02:52 #9

• CoreBus

  hmmm.. guess they think its ok to pirate when ur small time but NO get huge and legit anti this anti that between the uprising gas prices and the uprising cost of media i cant afford both

  30.6.2006 07:55 #10

• hot_ice

  @ zips
  
  Don't get me started with Madonna, one day she has an american accent, next day she has a british accent, one day she's christian, next day she's into qaballah, one day she's a major swinger, next day she's a born again virgin, one day she's all skanky, next day she's all classy.
  
  LOL!! But one thing that never changes is how her movies suck, hands down. Anyways, its pretty obvious she is leading a confused life. She will eventually get bored, and get cybernetic implants like the 6 million dollar man, and become a cyborg. lol
  
  Are all companies as careless as Virgin mobile with the handling of music?

  30.6.2006 08:14 #11

• ZippyDSM

  hot_ice
  take a look at hillery clinton...she makes al gore look energitic 0-o
  
  and shes just as clueless as modonna....

  30.6.2006 09:04 #12

• hot_ice

  @zippy
  
  I choose not to. lol. In respect to Al Gore, I find him quite refreshing, with his save the environment campaign. Mr. Gore, is passionate about what he does, I will give him that much. I can't wait to see his movie.

  30.6.2006 10:44 #13

• ZippyDSM

  hot_ice
  :P
  well Gore is a bit wishy washy and dose the pandering nice nicely to...hes a bit beter than hilary but not by enough...
  

  I have a brain...I think......
  
  Windows Vister
  I dub thee vister untill thee can prove thyself.
  
  I aint the brightest bulb around but I can feel my way in the dark...
  
  I fuzzy braind mew =0_o=
  
  FIGHT THE M.A.F.I.A.A.
  "Music And Film Industry Association of America.."

  30.6.2006 10:55 #14

• hot_ice

  Too many lawsuits based on piracy, and the consequences attached to it, are just too harsh.

  3.7.2006 18:56 #15