Australian recording industry investigators raided the Sydney offices of Kazaa, of owner Sharman Networks, and homes of two company execs today — seeking evidence to support copyright infringement allegations.
The raid was conducted under a rarely used law, known as Anton Pillar, which allows litigants in civil copyright cases to gather evidence. The Federal Court gave major Australian record labels permission to raid 12 premises in three states to collect evidence against Kazaa, said Michael Speck, general manager of Music Industry Piracy Investigations. The group is owned by Universal, Festival Mushroom Records, EMI Music, Sony Music, Warner Music Australia and BMG Australia. (…) Speck said the recording industry would launch a civil action against Kazaa in the Federal Court on Tuesday.
Link to SF Chronicle article. Link to statement from Sharman Networks about the raid. (via pho)
