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Men jailed for ‘fake’ vinyl records scam

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Men jailed for ‘fake’ vinyl records scam

Two men have been jailed and two others given suspended sentences for making and selling tens of thousands of niche counterfeit vinyl records.

Christopher Price, 68, Stephen Russell, 65, Robert Pye, 63, and Alan Godfrey, 61, were part of a group which distributed unlicensed recordings of 1960s Northern Soul artists.

On Friday a court heard about 55,000 unlicensed records were seized by police following an investigation by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which represents record companies in the UK including Warner Music, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group.

full story via

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/national/17268780.men-jailed-for-fake-vinyl-records-scam/

 

Local news clip

 



Edited by mike

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10 minutes ago, Mark Bicknell said:

do hope the record companies who own the publishing on this material hit them hard with royalties due

 

Quote from the article.

Judge Williams said: “The accused made a market for what there was no legitimate source.”

He said the amount of money the men owed the record companies in royalties had not been calculated but “is likely to be small”.

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Unfortunately, if there is money to be made, some will take a short cut.

Similar was going on some 60 years ago, also.

One of the most [THEN] flagrant cases of record bootlegging was uncovered in Feb 1958 when the office of the Illinois state’s attorney uncovered a distribution set up in Chicago and a pressing arrangement in Cincinnati. Records, plates and masters were confiscated at the Cincinnati pressing plant by Cincinnati police on information supplied by Chicago’s state’s attorney. Estimates of records produced and sold throughout the United States ranged from 100,000 since Christmas (1957) to several millions since the operation’s inception. Proof that the bootlegging was in operation before Christmas was the discovery of “The Joker” by Billy Myles on Ember.

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Mugs will always buy fake things that is why  these scum bags will always be around,  handbags perfume watches fair game,  but records that's sacrilegious

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How many where reproductions of original labels not just boots to fool people into buying what they thought was the genuine record.  Because we all know it has happened 

Steve 

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Yeah, I noticed too that the picture showed clearly boxes of Kent records. Danny White, Betty Bibbs, Troy Dodds, Timmy Wilson, Ansler Montel , Mel Williams.

In my opinion Kent records are a great label known for a lot of reissues, and all of their records are correctly licensed.

Perhaps some clarification is required. Were the criminals also booting Kent records ? Or were the criminals selling both legitimate and illegal records. Is the picture description incorrect?

Thanks

Mark

 

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Sounds like a possible plot for NORTHERN SOUL - THE MOVIE 2... 🙄

Bootlegs have been coming out of Kidderminster since the 1970s, somehow it seemed relatively innocent in those days, but this Is just pure greed and is totally shameful. Looks like there are sizeable sums of money involved here, I wonder what the proceeds have been spent on.

If there was any justice, eBay could surely have some liability here too, they provided the platform for it and take a cut of the proceeds in commission. However, the seller is responsible for the item I guess. Interesting stuff.

Edited by Soul16
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At last - name and shame them..

I should imagine a few other unofficial suppliers are feeling a little less comfortable as this gathers more focus in the market place.

 

Edited by Bossfourpart1
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Take note: the case was about the bootlegging only, expect these lads to be reappearing again sometime soon for cheating the HRMC, probably be getting extra time for that? Presumably KENT should get on the case if these lads were bootlegging Kent records?

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10 hours ago, Spain pete said:

Mugs will always buy fake things that is why  these scum bags will always be around,  handbags perfume watches fair game,  but records that's sacrilegious

People paying a fiver have hardly been mugged they know what they are buying so are not mugs at all. 

And it’s no different to buying a fake Vuitton bag. How is it?

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2 hours ago, JNixon said:

People paying a fiver have hardly been mugged they know what they are buying so are not mugs at all. 

And it’s no different to buying a fake Vuitton bag. How is it?

It was meant to be tongue in cheek john 😯

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 Can you imagine the shock for the two guys sent to prison. This must be unprecedented for such a crime and I bet they thought they would get a small fine. From the articles I have seen it doesn’t say if all four were manufacturing as well as selling - Maybe the two who received suspended sentences were just selling, but in bulk. There are hundreds of people selling bootlegs on eBay and other sites who must be sourcing from a number of similar people who actually do the repressing and now will need to seriously reconsider their activities.  Copyright infringement/license fraud is a massive business, but record booting is only a very small part, albeit increasing over recent years.  It would be interesting to know which of the media/music companies were active in this case or whether it was mainly driven by the BPI. I will try and get a copy of the Court case files as we have very little detail so far.

I have never booted a record but of course have bought many over the years as most of us will have. Why have an original £1000+ record on your 1958 juke box for example.... Of course we all would like to think decent royalties have been paid to the artists and their estates hence praising the likes of Kent, Grapevine and other legitimate companies.  In reality this doesn’t happen as much as we would like for many reasons of which booting is one and at last may be taking a downturn. 

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13 hours ago, Simon Bonsor said:

If you look at the pics there appears to be boxes of Kent stuff as well. 

No,those aren’t counterfeit KENT records....those are the pre-orders KevinKent put in,ready to be shipped out......

😂😂😂😂😂😂🤫🤫🤫

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1 minute ago, Soul16 said:

There’s still loads on eBay right now. Even the sellers name and location strongly suggest that it’s the same ‘gang’. Unbelievable.

Can we have a link please

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15 hours ago, Kegsy said:

Why dont the relevant people BPI, MCPS or whoever just sponsor an "is this a bootleg button" on the sites that sell them. Even better make it a legal requirement of said sites to feature one. How hard can it be ?.

A good idea but someone without a lot of knowledge may think a local issue is a boot or a legit reissue is a boot and "hit" the button. Or if it's a dealer someone doesn't like  "hit" the button out of spite. I'd rather see someone with considerable knowledge employed to root out these illegal records. (just an opinion) 

Edited by Dave West
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11 minutes ago, Dave West said:

I'd rather see someone with considerable knowledge employed to root out these illegal records. (just an opinion) 

I was thinking along the lines of the button being used to flag things up, for review by someone with the knowledge. Which ought to stop people misusing the function.

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 Bought bootlegs myself in the 70s only way obtain some sounds then  i know it was wrong but no excuse today plenty of legal sources today  if all u want 2 do is listen 2 to the music

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53 minutes ago, Soul16 said:

There’s still loads on eBay right now. Even the sellers name and location strongly suggest that it’s the same ‘gang’. Unbelievable.

Well that is good news! Surely there's no way now that eBay can avoid being hauled over the legal coals for their participation.

- Kev

Edited by KevinKent
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27 minutes ago, Pablorally said:

How many are out there already? Have you got one in your box.... ? Unfortunately someone has paid for a fake....

Their whole business was based on selling fakes to buyers who knew they were fakes on a Buy it Now basis for around £6 each. They shifted loads of this illegal worthless plastic to buyers who wanted to be part of the ‘new cool’ that is Northern Soul...

 

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Presume the two that got suspended sentences was because of being first offences.

I got asked by one of them to borrow my 'The Parisians - Twinkle Little Star' because he wanted a decent scan of the label. I wasn't aware of why, but something didn't feel right, so I didn't oblige (Not sure if this record got counter-fitted)

What records do we know have been counter-fitted by them? Be good to have them listed for people to be aware.

So, have people been buying them for £6.00 from these guys, then selling them as originals for said value? 

Len :thumbsup:

 

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1 hour ago, carty said:

I think it's a bit harsh to be honest , I mean it doesn't affect the price of the originals nowadays , there's a market for this stuff , ( I buy the one and I am sure many others on here do too )  Some  pensioners making a few bob , they got caught , so maybe confiscate  the discs , but jail ? As crimes go , this is not really much to write home about ( only my opinion of course ) probably about as serious as tobacco smuggling , both seems to provide a service (albeit illicit ). One side effect of this may be that the illicit discs currently in circulation may rise in value . 

Agree. Should be a civil law matter. Get an injunction, and sue for unpaid royalties. The crime here is unpaid income tax. To be clear though I don’t condone this activity or buy this product.

Edited by autumnstoned
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15 minutes ago, ric-tic said:

But what about the pensioners the other side of the water, I would bet more than half of those singers and writers struggle to buy food...

Fair enough , yes , maybe the discs should have been sold off and the proceeds sent over there , complicated business though , many artists now passed on , relatively small amount of cash to be distributed , what about producers etc .. But in principle that would be the ideal community payback  . Maybe the transgressors should be made to sit across the table from their victims , and explain their motivations for acting in such a manner , I am Sure Saxie Russell and co would appreciate the " healing " opportunity  

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