http://www.p2pon.com/Back in 2007 the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) conjoined and managed to have BitTorrent tracker site OiNK shut down.
Thanks to The Register, UK taxpayers know now how much they contributed to the operation that went under the name “Operation Ark Royal” despite the fact Cleveland Police refused to make that information available twice before explaining that “disclosure could undermine any ongoing and future investigations and cause potential damage to the criminal justice process.” The amount reached “at least £29,000 ($45,347USD), and probably much more.”
Here’s the list of “expenses”:
+ £7,800 spent on police overtime
+ £15,200 on forensics
+ £4,300 on travel and subsistence for investigators
For those not familiar with the case P2PON covered – Alan Ellis, the site’s admin, was acquitted earlier this year following long-lasting attempts from authorities to charge him with…something, anything. Finally, Ellias was charged with “conspiracy to defraud” but later was found innocent of those charges.
The info concerning the amount spent on a, let’s say, unsuccessful operation, was released eventually due to The Information Commissioner’s Office.
That's disgusting. Why should the tax payer have to pay for a case brought on behalf of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
