INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Further legal action has been launched by the International Federation for the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), a lobby group for the music industry, to help combat the illegal sharing of music over the Internet.

The IFPI confirmed it is launching 2,100 legal cases and is extending action to include five new countries - Argentina, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland. The 900m unauthorised music files on the Internet are affecting music CD sales and the IFPI is aiming its action at those putting music on the Internet and enabling it to be downloaded by others.

In conjunction with the legal action, the IFPI is also promoting the use of digital music services such as Napster and Apple's iTunes. Digital music sales were seen to triple in the first half of this year, accounting for around USD790m, which represents 6% of the market.

The BEUC, a consumer group based in Brussels, said on its website at www.consumersdigitalrights.com that consumers need clarification of their consumer rights with regard to digital content and hardware.

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