IFPI Launches New Wave Of Actions Against Illegal File-Sharing

Stepping up its campaign to deter copyright theft and promote legitimate use of music on the Internet, the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE PHONOGRAPHIC INDUSTRY (IFPI) announced 8,000 new cases against illegal file-sharers in 17 countries -- ARGENTINA, AUSTRIA, BRAZIL, DENMARK, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, HONG KONG, ICELAND, IRELAND, ITALY, MEXICO, NETHERLANDS, POLAND, PORTUGAL, SINGAPORE and SWITZERLAND. More than 13,000 legal actions have now been taken outside the U.S.

Seeing IFPI legal action for the first time are BRAZIL, where IFPI says more than 1 billion music tracks were illegally downloaded last year and where record company revenues have nearly halved since 2000, as well as MEXICO and POLAND. Many of those on the receiving end of legal action are parents whose children have been illegally file-sharing. IFPI reports that, in ARGENTINA, one mother made her son sell off his car to pay her back the settlement fee.

The next time a series of lawsuits are announced, you could be on the receiving end if you are an illegal file-sharer

"Consumers today can get music legally in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago, with over 3 million tracks available on nearly 400 sites worldwide, as well as an array of mobile platforms," IFPI Chairman/Chief Executive JOHN KENNEDY says. "Yet some people continue to consume their music illegally, refusing to respect the creative work of artists, songwriters and record producers.

"As a result we reluctantly continue with our legal actions, and today sees the latest escalation of that campaign to show that file-sharing copyrighted music does carry real legal risks -- apart from the risks to privacy and the risks from spyware and viruses. Around the world many people have already paid a heavy price for their illegal file-sharing. They all thought they were unlikely to be caught, but teachers, postal workers, IT managers, scientists and people in a host of other occupations, as well as parents, have ended up having to dig deeply into their pockets. The money they have had to pay as a result of the court cases could have been spent on other things.

"In each of the 17 countries involved in today's actions there are legal music services available to consumers. There is no excuse. People should understand that they can be caught whatever network they are using. The next time a series of lawsuits are announced, you could be on the receiving end if you are an illegal file-sharer."

Over 2,300 people have already paid the price for illegally file-sharing copyrighted material, with average legal settlements of 2,420 Euros.

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