The International Federation of the
Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has begun the thousands of new cases
in locations as far apart as Argentina, Iceland and Singapore.
Action is being taken for the first time in Brazil, Mexico and
Poland.
"Today sees the escalation of [our] campaign to show that
file-sharing copyrighted music does carry real legal risks," said
John Kennedy, chief executive of the IFPI.
Meanwhile UK body the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is
concentrating on its existing case load, said spokesman Matt
Phillips. "We are focusing on our existing actions," said
Phillips.
The BPI recently turned its attentions from users to ISPs.The
lobby group wrote to Cable & Wireless and Tiscali in July
asking that the internet access accounts of 59 users be suspended
because it claimed to have evidence that the accounts were being
used for illegal file sharing.
While C&W said that it would "take whatever steps are
necessary to put the matter right", Tiscali said that the BPI had
not provided "proper evidence" that offences had taken place and
insisted that the BPI obtain a court order if they wanted details
of the identities of the people involved.
Phillips said that negotiations with the ISPs were ongoing.
While the IFPI launches thousands more actions across the world
the US record industry body, the Recording Industry Association of
America (RIAA)has dropped yet another file sharing case after the
accused challenged its evidence.
Paul Wilke applied for summary judgment in the suit brought
against him, claiming that he had not illegally downloaded or made
available any of the songs listed, that only some of the songs he
was alleged to have illegally on his computer were copies from
legally purchased CDs. The rest had never been on his computer and
he had never used file sharing software, he said.
The record labels involved in the suit agreed to a dismissal of
the case. It is not the first time that recording industry groups
have dropped suits when the evidence behind them has been
questioned.
Earlier this year US resident Tammie Marson made labels back
down from their case against her because she said that evidence
that illegal copies of songs appeared on her computer was not
evidence that she had downloaded or shared them. No file sharing
case in the US has gone to a full trial.
Phillips said that nine UK cases had gone to court, though
none went to a full trial. Seven were subject to default judgments
and two to summary judgments all in the BPI's favour, he said. Some
cases had involved the internet account holder being sued because
of the actions of a third party, but in the UK it has been parents
who have settled on behalf of their children, he said.
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