U.S., RUSSIA TEAM TO FIGHT PIRACY

Russian and international music industry leaders are joining forces to fight piracy of CDs in Russia that is costing companies hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

"The piracy situation here is both frightening and daunting," John Kennedy, President of Universal Music International, told the Associated Press. Slack enforcement of copyright laws, he added, has made Russia one of the world's major music pirating centers.

Kennedy said illegal CD factories that operate in Russia crank out millions of cheap knockoffs that are sold openly across the country. Russia's music piracy business is worth $240 million a year, making it second only to China, he said.

Kennedy and other members of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry are teaming up with a newly formed Russian industry group to promote tougher enforcement of copyright laws.

Both groups said the first step is to close down illegal CD factories.