Music piracy fight - ISPs must do more

The music industry is calling for governments and internet services providers (ISPs) to do more in the fight against digital music piracy.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is proposing that ISPs should be obliged to disconnect users who are found to be infringing music copyright.

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According to the IFPI's latest report into digital music, the ratio of unlicensed downloads to legal ones stands at 20 to one, with tens of billions of illegal file transfers taking place in 2007.

And although digital music accounts for 15 per cent of all music sales and rose by around 40 per cent during the past twelve months - hitting $2.9bn - the sharp fall in CD sales means there has been an overall decline in the market.

The IFPI suggests record-company revenue and therefore investment in bands is being limited because of this.

But the IFPI feels governments are beginning to realise ISPs need to take a more active role in protecting digital music and cites France as leading this change.

Last November French President Sarkozy unveiled plans for ISPs to co-operate to fight piracy. The IFPI claims there is similar momentum in Belgium, Sweden and the UK.

IFPI chairman, John Kennedy, said ISPs must take responsibility now and the French approach shows an urgency "badly needed in every market where music is today being massively devalued by piracy".

The IFPI report also outlines issues the industry faces around digital music and suggests alternative revenue streams and marketing approaches will be required - such as partnerships with social networks.