NEWS
09.28.09 Jeremy Banks appointed IFPI’s Director, Anti-Piracy
LONDON – Jeremy Banks has been promoted to the newly created position of Director, Anti-Piracy at IFPI. Banks, who has headed the organisation's internet anti-piracy unit for several years, will oversee all of IFPI's London anti-piracy activities. The appointment for the first time brings IFPI's London internet and physical enforcement anti-piracy operations into a single management structure.
IFPI's global anti-piracy unit works with major and independent music companies and artist management internationally to combat copyright infringement online and of physical formats. Its clients come from among IFPI's 1 400-strong membership of music companies in over 50 countries. The unit is particularly active in curbing pre-release piracy, working closely with member companies to secure releases during their production, promotion and sales cycles. It removes large volumes of illegally posted copyrighted music and also targets the highly organised and often commercial services that are illegally distributing copyrighted music. The anti-piracy unit works in close collaboration with IFPI's litigation, policy, research and communications teams.
IFPI's active education and training programmes for law enforcement and customs and its policy of working in close collaboration with other rights holder trade organisations will continue within the newly-merged anti-piracy department.
Commenting on the appointment IFPI Chairman and CEO John Kennedy said: "IFPI's anti-piracy team plays a vital role in the day to day life of our member music companies across the world. Its daily successes are helping sustain the revenues of the music business and artists and other copyright holders in the face of a massive digital piracy problem. Jeremy has been a lynchpin in this operation for many years and has helped earn IFPI respect throughout the music industry and beyond. His promotion is greatly deserved - it is also a very logical step to bring together internet and physical anti-piracy teams in keeping with the convergence of different forms of piracy in recent years."
Jeremy Banks said: "The merging of IFPI's internet and physical enforcement anti-piracy operations is a significant step forward and will provide IFPI's member companies with the core services they require to protect their products whilst continuing to develop their commercial business models. I'm looking forward to extending our work with members and national groups around the world. It is the coordination of all our efforts internationally that is the key ingredient to providing an effective anti-piracy service."
