Music industry sues illegal file-sharers

The music industry is launching legal action against illegal file-sharers in four different countries.

Following in the footsteps of the US, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has revealed it will target individual song-swappers across Europe and Canada.

The IFPI, which represents the recording industry worldwide, said the action is
the start of an international campaign against online copyright theft and "the logical next step in the fight against piracy".

According to the IFPI, a total of 247 alleged illegal file-sharers in Denmark, Germany, Italy and Canada are facing legal action for online copyright theft. It said further waves of lawsuits will be launched in different countries in the coming months.

Jay Berman, chairman and chief executive of IFPI, said: “People persist [with illegal file-sharing] because, like shop-lifters, they think they ‘can get away with it’. So we have decided that only the prospect of legal action is going to make those people rethink what they are doing."

Last week the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) revealed it would take legal action against persistent illegal file-sharers. Music experts say the string of announcements may confuse consumers.

Jupiter Research analyst Mark Mulligan states in his daily weblog: "The average consumer will not make the distinction between the IFPI or the BPI (nor should they be expected to). We supposedly live in a single European market, yet the IFPI is only currently actively pursuing legal action in certain countries. The implication of which is that it’s fine to use file sharing networks in some countries and not others."