In theft and assignment by Armenians during decades of samples of non-material culture of Azerbaijan, including national folklore songs and dances, and products of the Azerbaijan authors, a considerable role has played the illegal activity of the studio of sound recording "Ani-Records".

In the message received by AzerTAj from the Republican Agency For Copyrights, it is said that in 1999-2003s, due to "efforts" of this "manufacturer" of soundtracks and visible records and other Armenian studios of sound recording connected to it, the markets of Russia and other CIS countries, and also of some other states, have been filled with production under the name “the Armenian music”, “the Armenian dances”.

Having written to the most impudent image on cartridges the words “Dear friend! Having bought this cartridge, you have brought in a great contribution to the cause of preservation of the Armenian culture outside Armenia. The music offered by studio "Ani-Records", has been very closely selected on all directions of the Armenian culture”, the Armenian swindlers have appropriated samples of Azerbaijani folklore music and author's products of the Azerbaijan composers. As a result of piracy of the "Ani-Records", melodies of Azerbaijan national dances "Vagzali", "Terekema", "Yalli", "Uzundere", "Gazagi", national songs “Khanbaji”, “ Deli Jeyran”, etc., and also a number of musical compositions of the Azerbaijan authors have turned into the Armenian. In spite of the fact that the international norms demand to specify the origin of samples of folklore music and surname of the authors, the pirate studio in the products belonging to Azerbaijan has replaced surnames of the Armenian executors or the general names, such as “The Armenian dances”, "Rabiz-Rabiz", “Stars of Armenia”, etc. Having specified in various cities of Russia fictitious addresses and phones, the studio, having veiled the activity, has created visibility of the legal person who is carrying out lawful activity in the territory of Russia. Plagiarism and counterfeit, falsification and swindle are the incomplete list of "services" of the notorious studio.

Long searches by the Republican Agency For Copyrights of this studio, addresses in the Russian author's organization, the International association of manufacturers of soundtrack have allowed to establish references that such studio was not consist on the account in the corresponding Russian and regional international structures and does not have their license. After the reference in embassy of the Russian Federation in Azerbaijan, it has been finally established that this studio does not have the license required by the Russian laws, and its activity is illegal. Therefore, the Agency asked the Russian embassy to bring the given information to the notice of the corresponding proxy Russian bodies and to assist in suppression of the illegal activity of "Ani-Records".

However, it was found out later that in the mid-2003, the said studio somehow has received the license for release of audio and videocassettes and has located in the house #90 on the Myasnikyan street in the village Chaltir of the Rostov province.

The people of the Republic have been in detail informed on theft of music by the studio "Ani-Records" and about its pirate activity. The name of the said studio is mentioned in the document “Assignment and destruction of the Azerbaijan cultural heritage” (2001), submitted by delegation of Milli Majlis to the session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in Statement by Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic “In connection with destruction and assignment of cultural values of Azerbaijan” (2002). From the end of 1999 up to date, detailed information on pirate activity of this studio has been submitted in mass media, on the international symposiums.

In connection with absence of the contract confirming copyrights to copying musical, etc. products, and also revealing of the facts of rough infringement of license requirements, including absence of the account of the released production, the Ministry on press, broadcasting and communications of the Russian Federation since January 19, 2004, has suspended activity of the "Ani-Records".

The press service of the said ministry has distributed the message on suspend of the activity of "Ani-Records" on manufacture and distribution of audio and visible records and has placed it on the official site of the Ministry.