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Three Defendants Sentenced in Internet Music Piracy Crackdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The first members of pre-release music piracy groups from Operation FastLink were sentenced today, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg of the Eastern District of Virginia announced. Derek A. Borchardt, age 22, of Charlotte, NC, Aaron O. Jones, age 30, of Hillsboro, Ore., and George S. Hayes, age 31, of Danville, Va. were sentenced for their involvement with Internet music piracy groups.

Borchardt and Jones each pleaded guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement for their involvement in the pre-release music group "Apocalypse Crew" or "APC." Jones was sentenced to six months in prison/six months home confinement and Borchardt was sentenced to six months home confinement by United States District Court Judge Claude M. Hilton. Matthew B. Howard, age 24, of Longmont, Colo., another member of the APC conspiracy, will be sentenced by Judge Hilton on May 26, 2006.

Hayes who previously pleaded guilty to one count of criminal copyright infringement related to his involvement in another pre-release music group called "Chromance" or "CHR" was sentenced to 15 months in prison by United States District Court Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Read more at usdoj.gov



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Three Defendants Sentenced in Internet Music Piracy Crackdown
Borchardt and Jones each pleaded guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement for their involvement in the pre-release music group

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Idea-Expression Dichotomy

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The fundamental rule of law that copyright does not protect an idea; copyright protects only specific expressions of an idea.

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