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March 06, 2005
British record industry reaches settlement over illegal Internet downloads
LONDON (AFP) - About 23 Britons who illegally downloaded music from the Internet for free have agreed to pay a settlement for the piracy, the record industry said.The deal, considered a first for the industry, involves an average payment of 2,000 pounds (2.900 euros) for each offender, and almost double that amount for the person who pirated 9,000 titles.
"We have no desire to drag people through the courts, so we have attempted to reach fair settlements where we can," said Geoff Taylor, a representative of the British Phonographic Industry, an organization of music editors.
Those who accepted the deal to compensate the record industry include 17 men and six women, aged 22 to 58. Three people declined the settlement and will be taken to court.
The industry has seen a decline in single record sales since 1989, while albums have continued to increase.
However, the music sector is concerned that album sales will also drop as more people use the Internet where they can download music faster and cheaper. [LINK]
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