Illegal Filesharing Costs British Music £1.1bn

The BPI claims that research has revealed that illegal filesharing has cost the British music industry £1.1bn over a three year period.

New figures released by an independent research body found that illegal filesharing cost the industry £414m in 2005 rising from £376m in 2004 and £278m in 2003.

Commenting in the news BPI chairman Peter Jamieson said: “The UK record industry is the biggest single investor in British music. Too often people believe that when they take music illegally over the internet it is a victimless crime.”

“But when people share music files illegally, they are stealing the future of British musicians and the people who invest in them.”

He added: "Music fans know the value of great music. Britain's music scene is currently as vibrant as it has been for years but illegal filesharers need to understand the impact of what they do. The battle against illegal filesharing is a battle for the future of British music.”

The news comes on top of an announcement by the international recording industry body IFPI that a new wave of over 2,000 court actions is to be taken against illegal file sharers worldwide.