Illegal music downloads on the increase

A report just published by the BPI, the representative body for the British recorded music industry, shows that illegal file downloading continues apace, with 7.7 million people illegally downloading 1.2 billion tracks at a cost to the retail industry of £219 million. These large numbers are in spite of the publicity surrounding the Digital Economy Act which provides for repeat offenders’ internet connections to be cut after three warning letters. However, Ofcom has yet to produce the Code of Practice needed for this to be put into place so it looks as if there will be plenty of illegal activity for the forseeable future. For the more honest among us the best way to get free music could be to put that long list of wanted albums on our Christmas lists in the hope that someone will buy us the CD (or download them for us from an authorised site). Or, if you don't mind listening to ads, you could try the free legal streaming services available.

Sally Creissen, Library & Information Services Manager, DMH Stallard LLP