The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) said today it has filed lawsuits against 459 European individuals for copyright infringement related to music file sharing, marking the biggest single group of suits to be filed outside the U.S. since Europe decided to sue individuals earlier this year. According to an IFPI press release, 174 suits are being filed in Denmark, 100 in Austria, 100 in Germany, 50 in France, Germany, 28 in the U.K. and 7 in Italy. [What about Poland? They're a part of the Coalition! Oh, wrong story]
The IFPI filed 247 suits in March in Europe and Canada, to go along with the 5,700-odd suits filed by the RIAA in the U.S. over the last year. Authorities say they are targeting “uploaders,” or “music fans” who share large numbers of copyrighted songs online. “We are at the point where the law has to be enforced. There is quite simply no longer any excuse for illegally file-sharing,” said IFPI Chairman/CEO Jay Berman. What about the free part and the fact that fans like the system, does that count?
“People who love music should buy it online and not swap files illegally. If they do continue to engage in illegal music file-sharing, they are in effect engaged in copyright theft, and may therefore have to face the legal consequences.”
Buy music, don’t share! Shove head in sand!
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