UK download fans: The law is breathing down your neck

The British Phonographic Industry has warned UK file sharers watching the RIAA's legal action against music fans unfold in the US that they may be next in line.

While many blame a drop in quality and a lack of original music, the BPI has blamed file-sharing for record labels' drop in revenues.

Andrew Yeates, the director general of the BPI, warned that legal action may be the only option left for a beleaguered record industry.

"The BPI has made no final decision on taking legal action against people using music over file-sharing networks illegally. But the disturbing increase in the illegal copying and distribution of unauthorised music files over the internet is making legal action increasingly likely," he said in a statement.

"A healthy music scene is only possible if the creators and investors of new sound recordings have the protection of copyright law," he added.

"Nobody should be in any doubt that file-sharing networks are harming the health of British music. We will take legal action if we are forced to."

However, Yeates' comments fail to acknowledge the impact that yet another round of Pop Idol will have on consumers' confidence in the record industry's ability to create original music worth buying. Many consumers may doubt whether record labels could innovate even with all the money in the world.

So far, legal action against file sharers has been restricted to the US, where the RIAA has caused controversy with its heavy-handed approach.

Most controversial was its bullying tactics towards a 12-year-old girl and its pursuit of a grandmother, who didn't even own a PC, who it wrongly identified as downloading gangster rap.

Whether the BPI is prepared to risk the same public outcry and negative PR is obviously a matter it is debating internally at the moment. On top of that, there is the issue of how costly and time-consuming individual actions would be.

Concerned music fans may be hoping the BPI decides it's more trouble than it's worth.