JOHOR BARU: More than 9,400 illegal mobile phone outlets nationwide are selling song downloads illegally to the public. They have been identified by the Special Copyright Task Force (SCTF) in an effort to put a stop to these illegal downloads.

Public Performance Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PPM) and Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) chief executive officer Tan Ngiap Foo said the figure was based on surveys.

Malaysia has about 10,000 mobile phone shops but only 600 were trading in legal ringtone downloads, he added.

"The total loss to the music industry based on illegal downloads by mobile phone dealers is RM100 million per year, taking into consideration that 10 songs are stolen per day and sold at RM3 each.

"These dealers know they are infringing on copyright laws but they continue to sell ringtones as it is a thriving business," he said yesterday.

On Monday, the SCTF raided two mobile phone outlets in Taman Johor Jaya here.

Led by personnel from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerisms Affairs Ministry, RIM and PPM, the team seized computers and memory cards.

Among the songs suspected to have been infringed were current top local and international hits produced by Universal Music, SRC, Rock Records, Sony Music, Warner Music, NSR, Suwah and KRU.