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Internet Song-Swappers

U.K. Record Industry Sues Five Internet Song-Swappers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2005 - 6:30am.
London -- The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) announced that it has filed the first copyright infringement lawsuits against Internet song-swappers in the U.K. The suits were filed in the U.K. High Court, against five individuals who collectively were offering 8,906 songs for download. The BPI said the five have declined since April to settle charges brought against them. The cases were the subject of a March 11 court order, which requires U.K. Internet service providers to provide the identities of suspected file-swappers to copyright holders, as they are required to in the U.S. "So far 60 U.K. Internet users have settled legal claims against them for illegal file-sharing, paying up to $11,500 in compensation," said BPI general counsel Geoff Taylor. "We have tried to agree fair settlements, but if people refuse to deal with the evidence against them, then the law must take its course… We will be seeking an injunction and full damages for the losses they have caused, in addition to the considerable legal costs we are incurring as a result of their illegal activity."
tags: Music | U.K | Record Industry | Internet Song-Swappers |