IFPI statement on US uploader case

5th October 2007

Statement by John Kennedy, Chairman and CEO, IFPI on the case of Jammie Thomas who has been found guilty of copyright infringement in the US.

“We have always made it clear we are reluctant litigators. We do everything possible to persuade people not to leave themselves exposed to litigation. We educate, we warn, we even try and settle before a case gets to court. We derive no great satisfaction from this but hope it will prove a deterrent to others. Our message is: we don't want to litigate - don't leave yourself exposed to litigation.”

Background

A federal Jury in Minnesota, USA, ordered Jammie Thomas to pay $222,000 for copyright infringement on Thursday, 4th October. She had used Kazaa to offer up 1,700 songs. Jurors ruled that Thomas' infringement was wilful and awarded damages of $9,250 for each of the 24 songs that were specifically examined as part of the case. Six music labels brought the case - Arista Records, Capitol Records, Interscope Records, Sony BMG, UMG Recordings and Warner Bros. Records.