Former ''Supremes'' Member in Philadelphia to Speak Out Against Pirated Music

  


by KYW's Mike Dunn

"Stop -- in the name of fairness."  That's what a former member of the Supremes says should happen to illegal copies of music that are routinely sold on the street, and sometimes in stores.  She spoke to a state House committee on Wednesday.

Mary Wilson (in file photo above), one of the original Supremes, said pirated music was a problem way back when she was starting out.  She told members of the state House Judiciary hearing about buying a Marvin Gaye tape decades ago, cheap on the street, only to find it wasn't Marvin Gaye.
  
And for Wilson, who has a new album due out soon, counterfeiting remains a problem:

"There is no question in my mind, that the minute the product hits the retail market, counterfeiters will be there to copy and distribute the product I worked so hard on, without compensation to me."

The lawmakers also heard about phony designer clothes and even pharmaceuticals.  They're considering a bill that would strengthen some of the penalties when the pirates are caught.