Music industry launches 8,000 new file-sharing lawsuits

The organization representing the recording industry has filed over 8,000 lawsuits claiming illegal file sharing in its continued attempts to discourage digital downloading of music.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) launched the suits in 17 countries, mostly in Europe and South America. No new suits were launched in Canada or the United States.

The organization launched suits in Poland, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil for the first time, claiming Brazil in particular was a hotbed for the illegal practice, with over one billion music tracks downloaded last year.

The IFPI claims the illegal downloads have hurt the music industry in Brazil, where record company revenues have nearly halved since 2000.

The group hopes the new round of lawsuits— which target individuals who upload copyrighted music for others to download— will help deter the practice and encourage downloading from legal sites.

"In each of the 17 countries involved in today's actions there are legal music services available to consumers," John Kennedy, chairman and chief executive of IFPI, saidin a statement Tuesday. "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," he said.

The music industry has pinned much of its hopes for future revenue on the success of digital music sales.

A report by the IFPI released last week said digital music sales climbed 106 per cent during the first six months of 2006, to $945 million, representing 11 per cent of worldwide recorded music sales.

But music sales in total are down four per cent during the same six-month period, a result of lagging compact disc sales.

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