Internet users targeted in music piracy crackdown

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

The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), which represents Irish record labels, is stepping up its campaign against what it sees as illegal copying of music.

At a press conference in Dublin today, IRMA is expected to announce a number of High Court actions against internet file sharers - those who download music and share it online.

“This is the first time that file sharers are being sued in Ireland and follows repeated warnings by IRMA over the past 15 months,” a spokesperson for the association said yesterday.

Since October of last year, IRMA, which represents music labels such as Virgin, Sony BMG and Warner, has been conducting research into online file-sharing. Based on that information, it has initiated proceedings against some of the larger file sharers.

“People have to realise that illegal file-sharing has consequences,” warned Dick Doyle, director general of IRMA. “We are ready to directly target the individuals who are putting so many jobs at risk.”

IRMA has also threatened legal action against a Dublin-based digital music company which copies CDs onto iPods and MP3 players for a fee.

But the company, CDtoMP3.net, says it will defend any action taken by IRMA, claiming such a move could have “European-wide implications.”

IRMA has warned CDtoMP3.net its commercial activities are in breach of Irish copyright law.

However, the head of CDtoMP3.net, Ian Montgomery, said the company intends to fight any legal action. “We’re confident that we’re acting within the law,” he said. “Our counsel assures us that we’re not in breach of any laws and we’re prepared to argue that.”

A spokesman for IRMA said that copying CDs onto iPods was illegal under the Copyright Act, 2000.

“Firstly, there is no private copying exemption under Irish law,” he said. “And anyway, what they [CDtoMP3.net] are doing is for commercial reasons. So we have put them on notice.”

Mr Montgomery said the company was not doing anything illegal.

“All we’re doing is providing a service,” he said. “We’re transferring people’s music for them alone. We don’t hold onto people’s music. It’s just a service.”

According to the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), Irish people using music on the internet must first get a licence from them.

“If you want to use music on the internet, whether it be on-demand music services, selling ringtones, using background music on your website, or making audio/video samples available etc., you first need to obtain a licence from IMRO for the authorisation to use the music,” it said.

The Copyright Act defines as an infringement the unauthorised copying of music “made available to the public.” This includes making copies of works available over the internet. IRMA has had increasing success in its campaign to halt copyright infringement. A number of producers of counterfeit CDs were successfully prosecuted in the last 12 months. One producer received a suspended jail sentence.

From file sharing to home recording - what does the future hold for the music industry? The Arts page on Thursday.