Ukraine tops in music piracy

LONDON - The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) recently called for a toughening of public policy on music piracy, worth an estimated $4.5 billion (U.S.) in 1998.

The key problem cited by officials of the world body is lack of enforcement of existing laws.

According to Billboard magazine, during the past year, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Israel, the Palestine Authority and Nigeria joined the IFPI's list of lands where pirate products accounts for more than half of total domestic sales.

IFPI added that Ukraine has now "displaced Bulgaria as the greatest pirate threat to the legitimate industry in Europe."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, August 29, 1999, No. 35, Vol. LXVII

| Home Page |