An alleged member of a high-profile music piracy group known for illegally copying and then pre-releasing albums to the public has been charged with conspiracy to commit copyright infringement.
Patrick L. Saunders, known by the screen name “Daliveone,” is accused of being a member of “Rabid Neurosis.” Known commonly by its tag “RNS,” the piracy group stopped identifying itself with illegally copied music in 2007 after MTV News listed it as the source of an Eminem album released a week earlier than scheduled by producers.
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RNS is believed to have released its first ripped-off album — Metallica’s “Ride the Lightning” — in 1996, according to news reports.
Saunders lives in New York City but has been charged in Alexandria’s federal court because he and other RNS members used America Online servers located in Dulles to communicate, court documents said. Those conversations were often about obtaining unauthorized and yet-to-be released copies of music albums, video games and movies. Saunders is accused of keeping and distributing at least 10 of those copyright-infringing copies on his computer server in New York City.
Court records did not list an attorney for Saunders, and no court date has been set for him.
According to charging documents, Saunders also coordinated with a member of another piracy group named the Apocalypse Production Crew. Known as “aPC,” the group released thousands of copyrighted songs over the Internet, according to court documents. Several members of the group were indicted in 2007 and later convicted of copyright infringements.
The indictment came down four years after the group’s former leader, Mark Shumaker, became the first person to be prosecuted by the federal government on music piracy charges. By that time Shumaker had already retired from aPC. Shumaker pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years’ probation after he agreed to give federal agents full access to his computers. In all, about 20 members of aPC were charged and convicted for their roles in the conspiracy.
