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Leona Lewis loses out as hackers steal her latest songs and post them on the internet
Amar Singh20 Aug 2009
YouTube has been ordered to remove links to unreleased Leona Lewis songs by anti-piracy officials working with Simon Cowell.
In one of the highest-profile hacking cases the music industry has seen, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has opened an investigation into how three tracks from the X Factor star's new album were stolen from computers belonging to Cowell's company, SyCo.
The IFPI, which works with agencies including police to clamp down on piracy, is targeting websites hosting illegal copies of the songs.
Tens of thousands of internet users have been able to listen to the tracks from Lewis's album not set for release until November.
YouTube, owned by internet giant Google, has been bombarded with users posting links to where the song can be downloaded free.
An IFPI spokesman said: “YouTube are one of the companies we are in touch with over this. We are aware of the activity on the site and are eager to work with them on this.”
Leaked tracks include Don't Let Me Down, featuring singer Justin Timberlake, which was to be the first single from Lewis's second, as yet untitled, album.
A source close to the investigation said arrests were likely “very soon in a European country and in the US”.
Sony BMG, SyCo's parent company, has insisted the leaked songs are demo versions and far from complete.
One user, under the name NewMusicLeaked1, posted the song three days ago. It has been viewed nearly 20,000 times. YouTube, which staunchly defends its policy of allowing users to post directly on to the site — before it is moderated — has set up a system through which rights-holders can help to promptly identify whether material has been uploaded illegally.
A YouTube spokesman said: “We encourage all media companies to take advantage of these tools.”
Jeremy Banks, head of the IFPI internet anti-piracy unit, said in a statement: “Such pre-release leaks, however they are sourced, are highly damaging to our members, who invest considerable budgets in marketing and promoting music ahead of release.”
A spokesman for SyCo said that its computers had come under “sustained attack”, adding: “We will certainly look to bring charges against those responsible.”
Lewis, 24, from Hackney, won The X Factor in 2006 and her debut album Spirit topped charts all over the world.
Fellow X Factor winner Alexandra Burke also fell victim to hackers recently.
Reader views (11)
So Leona Lewis gets massive publicity and free airplay for her upcoming album, coincidentally just as the new series of the X factor starts? How exactly is she losing out?
- Theo, Cambridge, 26/08/2009 16:26
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I wish someone would download my songs, and I am also very happy to sing for nothing.
You just can't please some people?
- Mickinlondon, london., 20/08/2009 15:37
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Not very good hackers if that was all they managed to steal, presumably the proper music was given adequate protection?
- Bob, Cheam, 20/08/2009 13:25
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Come on guys, wake up here. This is just hype and free publicity for LL's next album/tour/romance or whatever. That is what Cowell does, it is what he is.
- Steve, Brentford, 20/08/2009 13:14
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And yet Simon Cowell is allowed to walk the streets despite being guilty of heinous crimes against music.
- Loki, Roskilde, DK, 20/08/2009 13:13
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Excellent publicity Cowell's had here. Could it be that may be the PR genius has turned a very mediocre record into a big news story!!
- Duncan, Kent, 20/08/2009 13:11
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I should imagine Simon Cowell is going to be digging deep into his bank balance to compensate Leona Lewis for this. What a blunder!
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 20/08/2009 12:54
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Police hunt tone-deaf thieves
- Adrian Cotterill, United Kingdom, 20/08/2009 12:27
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what a shame for her, with all the suffering in the world at the moment and now this!!! who cares about these money greedy wastes? join the pirate party and get something done about these parasites 
- Sean, nottingham, uk, 20/08/2009 12:14
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Something must be done about these hackers and pirates. Prison sentences and equipment confiscated pluscommunty service. They are a disgrace.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 20/08/2009 12:11
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Boo Hoo.
My heart pumps custard for the record labels!
- Eli, London UK, 20/08/2009 11:22
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