Article

2004-06-15 Europe

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Posted by Dan Darling 2004-06-15 12:00:00 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 However, the prosecutor, Theo dâAnjou, told the court that Mr Idoughi "made up part of a criminal organisation that ran a sort of business where fundamentalist Muslims could come to get false passports."

Weren't the Madrid atrocities sufficient to make a statement like the one above set off all sorts of alarm bells in that courtroom?

What will it take for Europe to realize the threat being leveled against them? One can only fear it will require a horror far worse than our own 9-11 to make them take notice. It is quite possible that they shall get their way in this matter yet. Europe's lethargic response regarding Iran's obvious attempt to fabricate nuclear weapons may finally bring about such a belated and catastrophic awakening.

Posted by Zenster 2004-06-15 1:35:01 AM|| 2004-06-15 1:35:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 1kg of pirated compact discs is currently worth 3,000

These would be the original masters? Damn how much does a set of windoz xp weigh?

I think they got the numbers screwed up. The dope sounds about about right *koffi* but the cd counterfeits price gotta be way off base.

Posted by Shipman 2004-06-15 10:39:26 AM|| 2004-06-15 10:39:26 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 "1kg of pirated compact discs is currently worth 3,000...? ... I think they got the numbers screwed up..."

*Grabs postal scale*
Lessee... one CD (by itself, no jewelbox) = c.a. .6 oz ... 16 to the pound ... 2.2lbs/kg ... invert ... hokay, about 59 cds/kg. Retail price in Europe, $21 - $23 (including VAT): so say about $1300 gross, if sold at retail. (But if I was a pirate, I'd be injecting them into the distribution chain ahead of the retailers or selling them at open air markets or swap meets. Best you could hope for that way would probably be 50% of retail, $600.) So if Interpol says 3,000 euros that's high. (Who gave 'em their figures, the RIAA?)

Still not bad for something that only costs pennies to produce and doesn't automatically scream "illegal" the way drugs do. And if you know of a country with a cooperative government that will look the other way (cough *China* cough), you can arrange for some "special production runs" at otherwise legit plants, which can make for copies that are damned difficult to distinguish from originals.

Posted by Old Grouch 2004-06-15 12:35:05 PM|| 2004-06-15 12:35:05 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 And if you know of a country with a cooperative government that will look the other way (cough *China* cough), you can arrange for some "special production runs" at otherwise legit plants, which can make for copies that are damned difficult to distinguish from originals.

Which is just one more reason why China needs to be viewed as the real international terrorist. Islam may be more conspicuous and violent, but China is the real threat to world peace.

Posted by Zenster 2004-06-15 2:39:06 PM|| 2004-06-15 2:39:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Think you guys are right... if you remove the baksheesh premium it might be way more lucrative.

Posted by Shipman 2004-06-15 5:05:42 PM|| 2004-06-15 5:05:42 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Wait a second... Old Grouch were you assuming music CDs? If it were software maybe the numbers add up to the 3000...

Posted by Shipman 2004-06-15 5:07:15 PM|| 2004-06-15 5:07:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Yeah, I assumed music: Greater demand, more legit product out there (the better to hide the pirated stuff), more legit outlets (the better...). Somebody peddling music CDs at a street fair would probably go unnoticed, notso someone with a bunch of Windows install discs! While you could get more per piece for software, it would be hard to sell as many, and harder to stay unnoticed.

Posted by Old Grouch 2004-06-15 8:12:15 PM|| 2004-06-15 8:12:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 You have a future in finance OG.

Posted by Shipman 2004-06-15 8:19:22 PM|| 2004-06-15 8:19:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 plus, less bugs in music CD's than Windows Install CD's - less angry customers

Posted by Frank G 2004-06-15 8:29:11 PM|| 2004-06-15 8:29:11 PM|| Front Page Top

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