UK Music Companies Sue File-Sharers

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

08 August 2005

UK record companies' trade association the BPI last week intensified its campaign against large scale illegal distributors of music on the internet by lodging formal court proceedings for the first time against five uploaders in the UK.

BPI chairman Peter Jamieson said, "Music fans are increasingly tuning into legal download sites for the choice, value and convenience they offer. But we cannot let illegal filesharers off the hook. They are undermining the legal services, they are damaging music and they are breaking the law."

The BPI said that civil proceedings were being issued against five individuals who between them made 8,906 songs available for millions of people around the world to download without permission. The three men and two women live in King’s Lynn, Crawley, Port Talbot, Brighton and South Glamorgan.

The BPI will claim compensation and costs on behalf of its member record companies whose music has been uploaded on to peer-to-peer networks without permission.

BPI General Counsel Geoff Taylor said, “So far 60 UK internet users have settled legal claims against them for illegal filesharing, paying up to £6,500 in compensation. 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. That's why we have had no choice but to take these five individuals to the High Court. 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."

All five cases were the subject of a court order on March 11, requiring internet service providers to name the holders of accounts which had been used for illegal filesharing. The account-holders were first contacted by the BPI in April with the details of the case against them.

BPI chairman Peter Jamieson said, "The fight against internet piracy will not be won overnight, but increasingly we are winning the argument."

“So far 60 UK internet users have settled legal claims against them for illegal file-sharing, paying up to £6,500 in compensation. 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. That's why we have had no choice but to take these five individuals to the High Court. 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."

The three men and two women live in King’s Lynn, Crawley, Port Talbot, Brighton and South Glamorgan.

The BPI will claim compensation and costs on behalf of its member record companies whose music has been uploaded on to peer-to-peer networks without permission.

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