A MAN from Everton has been arrested on suspicion of illegally distributing UK Top 40 singles on the internet, which detectives say could have “cost the music business millions”.

Detectives from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) arrested the man this morning in a joint investigation with PRS For Music which collects royalties for musicians.

The City of London Police unit, supported by officers from Merseyside Police, raided the Liverpool home of the 38-year-old, seizing several computers and mobile devices, before taking him to a local police station for questioning.
 
The suspect is believed to be involved in distributing music tracks through his website, including a-cappella music, without the necessary licence or permissions from the copyright owner. 

Police say he is believed to have been generating significant advertising revenue.

He is also believed to be illegally uploading the UK Top 40 Singles to various torrent sites on a weekly basis as they are published by the official charts company.  

Artists

“It is estimated his actions could be costing the music industry millions of pounds and depriving the rightful creators of the content," said a police statement.

City of London Police Detective Inspector Mick Dodge added: “Today’s operation in Liverpool demonstrates how PIPCU are prepared to travel nationwide in the pursuit of those suspected of being involved in the illegal distribution of content online.

“This is a crime that is costing the UK creative industry hundreds of millions of pounds, money that not only supports the artists but the thousands of technical and support staff working in this sector, and PIPCU is committed to working with partners nationally and internationally to target those involved.” 

PIPCU is a specialist national police unit dedicated to protecting the UK industries from jarg and fake goods and online and digital content from intellectual property crime.

Simon Bourn, PRS for Music's head of Litigation, Enforcement and Anti-Piracy, commented: “Music piracy has a severe impact on the livelihoods of the entire songwriting community - and many more who contribute to Britain’s renowned creative industry. We’re committed to partnering with PIPCU to enforce against illegal services that are not willing to work with us towards a legitimate licensed model, and which continue to exploit our members’ work without permission.”