DV8 Release Group Uploader Arrested

DV8 Release Group Uploader Arrested
June 22, 2009
Thomas Mennecke


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The music release group "DV8" appears to have a rather innocuous line up: Dinosaur Jr, Noisettes, The Mars Volta and Boy Crisis. This release group has seen much of its work end up on the newsgroups and other file-sharing mediums, and most of the work is from independent artists. Independent artists and P2P typically get along well with each other, but according to the IFPI, a 33 year old man with connections to DV8 was arrested on June 16.

Although the release group hasn't been neutralized, it seems that the IFPI and other international copyright and police agencies are aggressively pursuing the group. The IFPI claims that DV8 is responsible for pre-releasing music from independent and major labels, however, very few if any of their releases are from top 40 or pop bands. DV8's releases appear concentrated on alternative work that often times don?t find its way to the radio airwaves.

"The release group, DV8, are believed to be responsible for leaking in excess of 2,500 titles, including content from both major and independent labels," the release states. "The investigation has already recovered a substantial quantity of promotional CDs, and computer equipment including an active FTP server and client and software used in connection with ripping and digitising content."

The release doesn?t indicate how long the man was taken into custody, but if past practices are any indicator, he was probably released the next day or within a few hours.