07/10/2004

UK's 'illegal music downloaders' targeted by BPI

People who illegally make copyright music available to millions of people across the world on peer-to-peer web networks are being targeted for a "rolling programme of legal action", it has been revealed.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) showed it meant business by beginning legal action against 28 UK filesharers. The industry group said that it would be seeking damages and injunctions to stop filesharers illegally uploading recordings on to filesharing networks.

The large-scale uploaders subject to legal action include users of the KaZaA, Imesh, Grokster, Bearshare and WinMX networks.

BPI chairman Peter Jamieson said: "We have been warning for months that unauthorized file-sharing is illegal. These are not people casually downloading the odd track. They are uploading music on a massive scale, effectively stealing the livelihoods of thousands of artists and the people who invest in them."

Since last March, the BPI has sent out over 350,000 instant messages to uploaders' computers warning them of the consequences if they continue.

The announcement of the first actions in the UK forms part of an announcement from international record companies' trade body the IFPI of a total of 459 new legal actions against illegal filesharers across six European countries.

(gmcg/mb)

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