A LANDMARK High Court judgment has found that laws to identify and cut off internet users illegally copying music files are not enforceable in Ireland.

Several record company giants have failed in their High Court bid to force UPC to block illegal internet downloading.

LEGENDARY presenter Gay Byrne is to receive a coveted accolade as a mark of his 50 years in broadcasting.

PUPILS who plan to while away the school holidays swapping songs over the internet could get a lesson in the law following a warning that music rights watchdogs will have their eye on them.

A JOBLESS man has become the first person in Ireland to be jailed for breaking anti-piracy laws after being spotted selling bootleg compact discs and DVD films.

MUSIC fans who download albums off the internet can get a better deal by buying compact discs in traditional record shops or via mail-order instead, an Irish Examiner survey can reveal.

THE Irish are turning into a nation of music downloaders as we turn away from conventional compact discs and buy songs online to be played on computers, iPods and mobile phones.

THE biggest change in the compilation of the Top 50 Singles chart in Irish music history takes place today when online sales will be counted for the first time.

A FURTHER 50 illegal distributors of internet music face court action under a new campaign by the music industry.

Around 50 individuals and companies who illegally uploaded music tracks from the web will be hit with legal action, the Irish Recorded Music Association said today.

INTERNET users are the next target in the battle to halt music piracy.

THE Irish music industry is to blitz computer users with Big Brother-style software to monitor illegal downloads that could land them in court to face fines of over €125,000 or five years in jail.

CHAMPAGNE glasses were raised at the double for Lyric FM which was named at the weekend as the top national station and overall radio station of the year.