The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has today announced 2,000 new cases against those accused of illegally sharing music.
On its website the IFPI boasts that a Finnish carpenter, a French chef and a retired German couple are amongst those stung by the legal action. Many users caught face instant disconnection from their ISPs.
Operations have been launched in a total of ten countries (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland) and affect eight of the internet's biggest file sharing platforms.
FastTrack (Kazaa), Gnutella (BearShare), eDonkey, DirectConnect, BitTorrent, Limewire, WinMX, and SoulSeek have all been targetted, though surprisingly no action has been taken against those sharing via newsgroups.
The group has also warned that parents can be held responsible for their offspring's download habits and urges tighter control over the younger generation's freedom online. Some say this request proves in a society where the younger generation often outsmart their parents when it comes to technology.
The IFPI's site claims that hundreds of people have already paid out the penalty for their illegal activities. It is claimed that the average settlement rests at €2,633 (£1,836 or $3,202).
View: IFPI.org
