Quotes

Franz Medwenitsch, Managing Director of IFPI Austria:

"Copyright theft is the problem of the music industry. It is decimating jobs, artists´ careers and livelihoods, and the variety of music genres on offer to music fans as investment evaporates. Austria has a high broadband penetration and we see a competitive online music market developing. But this positive development is hampered by the illegal distribution of music on the internet. It is theft and we will not sit back and watch it happen - we will take action."

Peter Jamieson, Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), UK

"BPI chairman Peter Jamieson says, "We have been warning for months that unauthorized file-sharing is illegal. These are not people casually downloading the odd track. They are uploading music on a massive scale, effectively stealing the livelihoods of thousands of artists and the people who invest in them.

"We have resisted legal action as long as we could. But we would be derelict in our duty to protect and promote British music were we not to take action to demonstrate that this activity is illegal and harmful to every aspect of the creative British music industry. We believe we have no alternative other than to enforce our rights through the courts."

Hervé Rony, Director General of SNEP, the French Recording Industry Association

"The French recording industry believes that the successful promotion and development of a legitimate online music market can only occur in a favourable economic climate. For this, we must tirelessly battle against illegal file-sharing on the internet. No legitimate online business can exist when confronted with a mass pirate market of "free" music.

SNEP would also like to applaud the mobilisation of public authorities in the last few months, which has resulted in the signature of a Charter of Cooperation with French ISPs. We are now optimistic that this new structure is well-adapted to the development of legal music online."

"Le SNEP a déclaré que la promotion et le développement des offres légales en ligne ne peut avoir lieu que dans un contexte économique favorable, ce qui suppose de lutter sans relache contre les échanges illégaux de musique sur internet. Aucun marché ne peut exister dans un contexte de piraterie de masse. Le SNEP s'est aussi félicité de la mobilisation des pouvoirs publics depuis ces derniers mois, concrétisée par la signature d'une charte de coopération avec les ISP's et s'est dit optimiste sur la mise en place avec ces derniers d'un cadre adapté à la musique légale."

Michael Ritto, Chairman of IFPI Denmark:

"The Danish music industry continues to suffer from the activities of internet pirates, but the results of our first legal actions began in March against illegal file-sharing are very positive. Not only have our efforts raised awareness of the illegality of sharing copyright-protected music, but the volume of illegally traded files has gone down on the networks we have targeted. In order to pave the way for legal services and support the retailers who are of the first to bear the brunt of this attack, we have to continue the fight while at the same time supporting the creation of easy-to-use, legal online music services. The emergence of this legitimate market allows true music lovers to download their music can get it in better quality and at reasonable prices. There is no excuse for stealing music."

Peter Zombik, CEO of IFPI Germany:

"Legal actions in Germany against illegal file-sharing on the Internet have proven to be one effective tool to defend the rights of artists and producers. Combined with attractive services allowing people to download music legally, these actions can put a stop to the unauthorised distribution of music on the web. Users are more and more aware of the advantages legal download services offer them and of the legal and technical dangers involved in illegal file-sharing."

Enzo Mazza, General Director of FIMI, the Italian Recording Industry Association

"Music piracy is an enormous and ongoing problem in Italy, threatening the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of Italians in the music industry.

As Italians take up broadband, they also take up unauthorised P2P file sharing in increasing amounts - 4 million Italians use P2P services and most of them share illegal files over the net. We cannot allow this to continue at this pace. Meanwhile legitimate online services are also growing day by day in Italy. This is a critical time in history for the emerging legitimate services and we absolutely need to stop the illegal alternative in order to give them the space to grow."

Cary Sherman, President of the Recording Industry Association of America

"A global problem requires a global response," said Cary Sherman, President, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "And that is why the actions taken by our international colleagues are so welcome. Every week, it seems, there is an announcement of the launch of yet another legitimate online music service. By enforcing the rights of creators around the world, our colleagues are sending a message that there is no longer any excuse for uploading music illegally instead of buying it. With all the spyware, adware, viruses, loss of privacy, unwanted pornography and the risk of getting caught for copyright infringement, people's behavior and attitudes toward illegal file-sharing are already changing. Today's announcement will only help further deliver that message."

John Malcolm, Senior Vice President and Director of Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations, for The Motion Picture Association (MPA). "IFPI's actions prove once again that, when you are online, you can click, but you can't hide. When you steal copyrighted material from a peer-to-peer network that is open to the world, you reveal your identity, open your computer to perils such as viruses and worms and expose yourself to legal liability. We fully support IFPI's campaign to protect the copyrighted works of its members as well as the livelihoods of the millions of people around the world who work in the creative industries."

Francesca Greco, Managing Director, GIART (International Organisation of Performing Artists)

"GIART, the international organisation of performing artists, believes that creative work needs protecting in the online world. Unauthorised file-sharing on the massive scale that is now taking place is having a devastating impact on the livelihoods of performing artists and many others in the music sector. We are happy to see that there are now many legitimate services offering a wide range of tracks online. If music fans want performing artists to go on making the music they love, they should buy it, not take it without permission and distribute it illegally to millions of people on the Internet."

Simon Wright, CEO Virgin Entertainment, President GERA

"GERA-Europe remains supportive of litigation in the case of large scale uploading. It hopes that this second wave of litigation will continue to serve as a tool to educate music users and to render the legitimate sale of music online more viable and contribute to the revival of music sales through traditional channels. The latest move by the recording industry to stamp out what is essentially theft of copyright material is considered positive provided that the move continues to be accompanied by consumer education and other methods to promote the legitimate sale of music."

Robert Holleyman, President and CEO, BSA (Business Software Alliance) www.bsa.org

"P2P is an excellent technology, and nothing should make us lose sight of its potential. However, there are illegal uses of this technology that necessitate actions such as those announced today by IFPI and its members. BSA supports IFPI's ability to protect its members' works online.

Using P2P technology to share unauthorized works, unfortunately, clouds the legal advantages of this technology. BSA and its members continue to believe that piracy on P2P networks is an unacceptable, illegal use of an otherwise impressive technology.

IFPI's strategy is consistent with the joint principles announced last year by the IT and music industries where we agreed that private and government enforcement actions against infringers is critical to addressing the growth of online piracy. We are hopeful that the attention and discussion resulting from IFPI's actions will highlight the importance of respecting copyrights for creative works online."

Jonas Modig, FEP Vice-President and President of FEP (c) committee (Book Publishers)

"While we are still struggling to see whether ebooks have a future as a serious alternative to printed books, the scale of piracy on the internet is frightening for publishers. Unless consumers - in our case readers- understand the true value of intellectual property and respect it, it will be difficult for publishers, often dealing with low print-runs, to give them a really attractive offer and an efficient service as we won't have the financial means to achieve these goals."

Arlene McCarthy, UK MEP

"We know that there are millions of illegal files circulating on the Internet at any given time. In the European Parliament we have dealt with this by passing effective laws to legislate for the Internet age. There is no upside to illegal uploading - it undermines jobs and creativity. The law is there to be respected and enforced."

Paul Smith UK Sales Director OD2

"OD2 fully supports the promotion and growth of legal downloading. Offering music fans a legal alternative is of paramount importance to the whole industry – protecting artists work and safeguarding the industry for the future is absolutely what we are trying to achieve. Working closely with the IFPI, the record companies and of course our retailers, OD2 will continue to invest in offering digital music services which are both convenient and legal, whilst giving music fans a rewarding consumer experience."

Rafael McDonnell, Head of Strategic Marketing Alliances, Coca-Cola

"We are pleased that Coca-Cola Great Britain, alongside other legal download sites, are able to support the UK music industry in its efforts to prevent illegal downloading. Mycokemusic.com was the first major legal branded download site which launched in January 2004 and provided consumers with a simple to use site from a brand they trusted."

Geoff Sutton, Regional General Manager, MSN Europe

"It's crucial people fully understand the dangers of sharing music illegally. MSN fully supports the IFPI's campaign to raise awareness of these dangers, and of the benefits of legal digital music services like our own MSN Music. Legal music sites, with high levels of security and rigorous digital rights management, are the best solution for both parties - artists and the music industry have their intellectual properties fully protected while consumers can enjoy all their favourite music, free from the dangers of illegal downloads, like viruses, and safe in the knowledge that they are not committing a crime."

Scott Cohen, Founder and Vice President, International, The Orchard

"I firmly believe that over time, physical formats for delivering music will be replaced by digital delivery of music. There will be a number of new business models to go alongside the current a la carte download, subscription and streaming businesses of today. All of these businesses must generate revenue as well as offer a great value proposition for consumers, in order for the industry to maintain its health and so consumers can continue receiving songs from the wide range of artists creating music around the world. I am against businesses or individuals that monetize file sharing without compensating rights holders, and I fully support any system that helps create the new digital business models."

Paul Myers of CEO and Founder of Wippit

"There is nothing in for it these guys who want to illegally distribute copyright content. Perhaps these actions will discourage those who make an extra special effort to distribute."

Pete Waterman

"Usually when somebody doesn't want to be paid it means they've got a million pounds sitting in the bank. The drummer of Blur and myself are very lucky, we've made money… but there are many young bands out there who can't make a living. This is not the National Health Service. This is music - you buy it. I have never had a problem with paying for my music."

Jay Sean, an up-an-coming R&B artists said at the launch of the British Asian Music Awards:

"If people don't pay for music why would record companies have any incentive to carry on signing up new artists like me"

Feargal Sharkey

"I find it extraordinary, given that 60 per cent of musicians in the UK earn less than £10,00 per year, that we are prepared to ask musicians and songwriters to turn up to work every day and not get paid."