Police have shut down Oink, a members-only website that linked to illegal pre-release music downloads.
After two years investigating the site, Dutch and British police raided offices in Amsterdam and Middlesbrough, arresting a 24-year old man. Reuters quoted Jeremy Banks, head of Anti-Piracy at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, claiming "OiNK was central to the illegal distribution of pre-release music online."The site was only open to invitees and strictly monitored members to keep the flow of torrents active. It was a premium host for pre-release leaks of albums. Reuters reports that an estimate 180,000 members had paid "donations" for access, and there is a real risk of fines and jail time for those whose details are on the Oink servers, particularly under US copyright infringement and intellectual property laws.
The site, www.oink.cd, is currently displaying the following message: "This site has been closed as a result of a criminal investigation by IFPI, BPI, Cleveland Police and the Fiscal Investigation Unit of the Dutch Police (FIOD ECD) into suspected illegal music distribution. A criminal investigation continues into the identities and activities of the site's users."
