Net News

Music Industry Files 8000 New Infringement Lawsuits

Last month, the music industry launched a fresh wave of 8000 lawsuits against alleged file-sharers around the world, escalating its drive to stamp out online piracy and encourage the use of legal download services.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the world's music companies, said the new cases were brought in 17 countries, including the first ones ever in Brazil, Mexico and Poland.

The trade group said more than 1 billion music tracks were illegally downloaded last year in Brazil, the largest market in Latin America. Record company revenue has nearly halved in Brazil since 2000, IFPI said.

IFPI has said some 20 billion songs were illegally downloaded worldwide last year.

The industry has now filed about 18,000 lawsuits in the United States, the largest market for music sales, and 13,000 in the rest of the world.

The legal proceedings involve both criminal and civil suits and are aimed at 'uploaders' ' people who put copyrighted songs onto Internet file-sharing networks to offer to music fans without permission.

The IFPI said many of those targeted for legal action were parents whose children had been illegally file-sharing.

The group added that more than 2300 people had already settled their case for illegally file-sharing copyrighted material with an average payout of 2420 euros ($3034).

Legal downloads represent about 11% of total music sales, but still do not make up for declining CD sales. Total music sales declined 4% in the first half of 2006.

Music Industry Files 8000 New Infringement Lawsuits

Last month, the music industry launched a fresh wave of 8000 lawsuits against alleged file-sharers around the world, escalating its drive to stamp out online piracy and encourage the use of legal download services.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the world's music companies, said the new cases were brought in 17 countries, including the first ones ever in Brazil, Mexico and Poland.

The trade group said more than 1 billion music tracks were illegally downloaded last year in Brazil, the largest market in Latin America. Record company revenue has nearly halved in Brazil since 2000, IFPI said.

IFPI has said some 20 billion songs were illegally downloaded worldwide last year.

The industry has now filed about 18,000 lawsuits in the United States, the largest market for music sales, and 13,000 in the rest of the world.

The legal proceedings involve both criminal and civil suits and are aimed at 'uploaders' ' people who put copyrighted songs onto Internet file-sharing networks to offer to music fans without permission.

The IFPI said many of those targeted for legal action were parents whose children had been illegally file-sharing.

The group added that more than 2300 people had already settled their case for illegally file-sharing copyrighted material with an average payout of 2420 euros ($3034).

Legal downloads represent about 11% of total music sales, but still do not make up for declining CD sales. Total music sales declined 4% in the first half of 2006.