20thJuly 2009

Spanish police have conducted a major operation against bars using unlicensed video jukeboxes in the region of Extremadura.  It is believed the illegal jukeboxes had generated around one million euro in revenue for their supplier.

Around100 officers from six police stations inspected 47 bars in the area over the course of 12 hours, seizing 25 jukeboxes.  Police also raided the firm that supplied the copyright infringing machines and arrested the firm’s administrator.

The investigation began when anti-piracy experts from AGEDI, the Spanish music licensing company, presented police with evidence that a firm with head quarters in Deleitosa was manufacturing and distributing unlicensed jukeboxes.

The coin-operated machines played music videos that were sourced from illegal downloads and stored on a hard disc without the authorisation of rights holders. These jukeboxes were installed in bars across the Extremadura region.

The Spanish National Police are continuing to investigate other companies engaged in this illegal activity that has grown dramatically in the last year.  They were supported in the Extremadura operation by technical experts from AGEDI and officers from the Senior Police Headquarters of Extremadura.