LONDON -- The British record industry is warning illegal music file-sharers that they risk court action similar to measures taken by the Recording Industry Assn. of America, which has targeted some 1,600 individuals.
U.K. record company trade body the British Phonographic Industry has unveiled research indicating that 8 million people in Britain claim to be downloading music -- 92% of them using illegal sites.
And it is changing buying habits. Non-downloader expenditure on music was flat while downloader spending on albums dropped 32% and spending on singles plummeted 59% over the previous year.
"There is no clearer evidence of the damage that illegal downloading is doing to British music and the British music industry," said BPI chairman Peter Jamieson. "Illegal file-sharing is causing real financial damage to artists, to songwriters, to record companies, publishers, retailers and everyone involved in the business."
To combat the problem, the BPI will use an instant messaging Internet campaign. Those who upload music for others to share online will be warned that they face court action if they do not disable file-sharing software on their computers.
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