Ukraine bulldozes Russian Microsoft CD's

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: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1796000/1796306.stm : Ukraine bulldozes pirated by russian mafia : illegal CDs with the Russian Microsoft : : Ukrainian authorities have destroyed about 30,000 pirated CDs in an attempt to prove they are determined to stamp out copyright piracy and so escape US trade sanctions. : : Ukraine's street-vendors say CDs is a flourishing business : : "The operation is intended to show that we are becoming a civilised society," a Kiev tax police official said, as a bulldozer crushed confiscated CDs on the outskirts of the capital Kiev. : The US accuses Ukraine of being Europe's main centre for the production of illegal CDs, estimating that tens of millions of CDs illegally copied there each year cost the US music industry about $200m. : Last week, Washington imposed $75m worth of sanctions, affecting trade in steel and other exports after interpreting Ukraine's new laws to combat CD piracy as "ineffective" and too "weak". : Accusations : But Ukraine's officials have said there are no resources or equipment in the country to produce such high amount of CDs. : Deputy prosecutor General Oleksiy Bahanets said a thorough investigation of five Ukrainian plants revealed there were "no grounds" to accuse them of issuing pirated CDs. : However, he did admit some operators had the means to produce small amounts of illegal CDs. : Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma also criticised the US pressure, saying the laws Washington was demanding "existed nowhere else in the world". : Bootleggers : The US has not been alone in expressing its disquiet at Ukraine, whose flourishing bootlegging industry produces an estimated 80 million audio and video discs a year. : Record industry representatives from other countries have voiced similar complaints in the past. : And Ukraine is far from being the only country to have a problem with counterfeiters. : Since its entry into the World Trade Organisation, China has begun a crackdown on its own thriving bootleggers, while similar operations exist across the southern hemisphere. : See also: : : 30 Jan 02 | Music : Ukraine denies CD piracy problem : 23 Jan 02 | Business : Ukraine hit by CD piracy sanctions : 18 Jan 02 | Business : Ukraine CD piracy curbs 'too lax' : 07 Aug 01 | Business : US and Ukraine in piracy row : 29 Jul 01 | Business : Software piracy on the rise : 20 Jul 01 | Sci/Tech : Piracy problems stain Windows XP : 06 Jun 01 | South Asia : Clamp down on computer piracy : Internet links: : : Ukraine's parliament : Office of the US trade representative : The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites : Top Europe stories now: : : Munich police clash with protesters : Plea to close Sangatte rejected : Milosevic to face single trial : Inflation fears hit euro : Nuclear experts on risky Georgian mission : Turkey woos IMF with reforms : Ukraine bulldozes pirated CDs : Holland takes princess to its heart : : Links to more Europe stories are at the foot of the page. : : : : : Microsoft Corporation thanks you for your recent correspondence to our : : Anti-Piracy team. As an international company that believes in : : appreciating and protecting intellectual property, Microsoft devotes : : substantial time and effort towards fighting software piracy, and we : : appreciate your shared interest in this cause. : : Our staff promptly handles questions or requests for information on : : software piracy. We actively pursue all reports on possible : : unauthorized copying and/or distribution of Microsoft software. Due to : : the sensitive legal nature of these matters, it is not possible for us : : to provide feedback or updates about actions taken on your submission. : : However, we want you to know this in no way reduces the importance of : : your submission to us. We take these submissions very seriously and : : will investigate the situation and proceed with whatever action is : : deemed necessary. The final outcome of many such matters sent to us : : can be viewed via press releases located at www.microsoft.com/piracy. : : Visit this website to see other valuable Anti-Piracy information such as : : recognizing genuine Microsoft software, understanding Microsoft's : : licensing policies, and news about Microsoft's Anti-Piracy initiatives. : : : Адреси: : : : homepage@microsoft.com : : : webmaster@msn.com : : : support@hotmail.com : : : piracy@microsoft.com