IFPI welcomes Australian action against Kazaa

February 6, 2004

IFPI welcomes today's announcement by the music industry in Australia that it is taking legal proceedings to stop the mass-scale violation of copyright that allegedly is taking place in that country via the KaZaA peer-to-peer network.

The Australian case claims that Sharman Networks and the other KaZaA-related parties are allegedly engaged in mass infringement and authorisation of infringement of copyrighted sound recordings on the KaZaA system-a claim that IFPI wholly supports .

IFPI Chairman and CEO Jay Berman said: "We welcome this action by the Australian music industry, and we believe that the Australian music scene, and particularly the country's emerging legitimate online music business, will the biggest beneficiary.

"We think the corner is turning in the development of a legitimate online music business worldwide. Actions against unauthorised music distribution in different countries, including this case in Australia in which mass infringement is alleged, are playing are a very important role in helping craft that change."

Background for Journalists

The Australian record industry announced on Friday 6 February that it has started legal proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia to stop the alleged illegal copying and distribution of music via the KaZaA Network in Australia.

The proceedings, launched in Sydney, seek to stop the alleged (1) infringement in Australia of copyright (i.e. unauthorised copying, communication to the public, and distribution of copyrighted sound recordings) and (2) authorisation of such infringement, on the KaZaA system.

The case has been brought by the affiliated companies of the Australian anti-piracy organisation MIPI, which is the anti-piracy arm of the Australian recording industry association ARIA.

According to IFPI's Online Music Report, published last month, the number of copyrighted music files simultaneously hosted on networks (of which KaZaA is the largest) stands at around 800 million - but has fallen by around 20% in the last year due to a combination of new legitimate online alternatives and industry anti-piracy actions.

For further information contact: Michael Speck, General Manager of MIPI on
tel: +61 28 569 1117 or mobile: +61 412 969 653