In its efforts to fight illegal file sharing, the International Federation for the Phonographic Industry, the global version of the RIAA, announced on Tuesday that they have launched the largest wave of action to date against those who illegally trade copyrighted material via peer-to-peer (p2p) networks. The IFPI announced that they have filed over 2,100 new cases against individuals expanding their actions to five new countries in Europe, Asia and South America.
Charges have been filed in Sweden, Switzerland, Argentina, Hong Kong and Singapore against file sharers who face both criminal penalties and payment of damages in a global effort that has seen thousands of defendants in other countries paying the equivalent of $3,000.00 US Dollars or more for sharing copyrighted music via p2p networks.