Germany Launches Biggest Ever Action Against Illegal File Sharing

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

26 May 2006

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced this week that the German authorities have conducted their biggest swoop on illegal file sharers to date.

According to the IFPI, investigators identified 3,500 individual illegal music file-sharers who were using the eDonkey network to offer up to 8,000 copyright infringing music files on the internet.

Each of the individuals faces both criminal prosecution and claims for compensation for their actions under civil law. They are likely to face damage claims of up to several thousand euros for distributing music on file-sharing networks, without permission, for millions of others to download.

Police on Tuesday searched 130 premises to gather evidence in the investigations, which have been running for several months. The actions are coordinated by the Public Prosecution Service of Cologne and the Police Authority of Bergheim.

The Federation went on to reveal that in Germany, legal physical sales of music have fallen by a third in five years, while more than 400 million music files were downloaded illegally in 2005 alone.

Michael Haentjes, Chairman of IFPI Germany and Chairman and CEO of Edel Music, stated that: "The important message to all internet users is that you cannot rely on being undiscovered when committing crime online," and added:

"On behalf of the recording industry, IFPI thanks the police for a great piece of teamwork and a superb investigation success."

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