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| Website was 'large-scale rip-off' | Website was 'large-scale rip-off' |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| A music sharing website run by a Teesside man was a case of "large-scale, professional, ripping off", a court has heard. | A music sharing website run by a Teesside man was a case of "large-scale, professional, ripping off", a court has heard. |
| Alan Ellis, 26, who founded the Oink site, denies conspiracy to defraud. | Alan Ellis, 26, who founded the Oink site, denies conspiracy to defraud. |
| Teesside Crown Court was told he had $300,000 in his Paypal account when his home in Grange Road, Middlesbrough, was raided in 2007. | Teesside Crown Court was told he had $300,000 in his Paypal account when his home in Grange Road, Middlesbrough, was raided in 2007. |
| Prosecutor Peter Makepeace said all the cash benefited Mr Ellis and none went to the artists who created the music. | |
| He hadn't sung a note, he hadn't played an instrument, he hadn't produced anything. The money was not going to the people it rightly belonged to, it was going to Mr Ellis Prosecutor Peter Makepeace | |
| The court heard that membership to Oink was free, but by invitation only, and anyone wishing to propose a friend had to make a five dollar payment. | The court heard that membership to Oink was free, but by invitation only, and anyone wishing to propose a friend had to make a five dollar payment. |
| Peter Makepeace, prosecuting, said: "At the time this website was taken down, there were approximately 200,000 active members." | Peter Makepeace, prosecuting, said: "At the time this website was taken down, there were approximately 200,000 active members." |
| "Those users had access to about 200,000 audio files. | "Those users had access to about 200,000 audio files. |
| "This site had facilitated a staggering 21 million downloads of those available files." | "This site had facilitated a staggering 21 million downloads of those available files." |
| The website never had to upload any music itself, all it did was "provide the facility of linking one person to another who wanted that music." | The website never had to upload any music itself, all it did was "provide the facility of linking one person to another who wanted that music." |
| He added that it was a case of "large-scale, professional, clever, technical ripping off." | He added that it was a case of "large-scale, professional, clever, technical ripping off." |
| Oink was set up in May 2004 and hosted in Norway, but later moved to Amsterdam after the music industry asked it to stop. | Oink was set up in May 2004 and hosted in Norway, but later moved to Amsterdam after the music industry asked it to stop. |
| Following an investigation in October 2007, which led to the site being closed down, police simultaneously raided premises close to Schipol Airport and Mr Ellis's Middlesbrough home. | Following an investigation in October 2007, which led to the site being closed down, police simultaneously raided premises close to Schipol Airport and Mr Ellis's Middlesbrough home. |
| The prosecution said that when interviewed by police, Mr Ellis refused to answer questions about money, and said it was "out of my hands" what the site's members did. | The prosecution said that when interviewed by police, Mr Ellis refused to answer questions about money, and said it was "out of my hands" what the site's members did. |
| Worldwide donations | Worldwide donations |
| Police found donations from around the world in several of Ellis's Paypal accounts. | Police found donations from around the world in several of Ellis's Paypal accounts. |
| Mr Makepeace said: "It is clear that he received by way of donations personally, almost $300,000." | Mr Makepeace said: "It is clear that he received by way of donations personally, almost $300,000." |
| None of the cash was going to the music industry, the court heard. | None of the cash was going to the music industry, the court heard. |
| "Every penny was going to Mr Ellis," Mr Makepeace said. | "Every penny was going to Mr Ellis," Mr Makepeace said. |
| "He hadn't sung a note, he hadn't played an instrument, he hadn't produced anything. | "He hadn't sung a note, he hadn't played an instrument, he hadn't produced anything. |
| "The money was not going to the people it rightly belonged to, it was going to Mr Ellis." | "The money was not going to the people it rightly belonged to, it was going to Mr Ellis." |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |