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Saturday, April 14, 2007

BLACKOUT THREAT FOR MUSIC THIEVES

By Peter Holmes

April 15, 2007 01:00am

  • Tough guidelines to stop illegal music downloads
  • ISPs in plan to cut services to thieves
  • 18 per cent of Australians download 30 illegal songs a month

PEOPLE who illegally download music would have their telephone and internet services cut off under a radical new plan proposed by the music industry.

Fed up with falling sales, the industry - which claims Australians download more than one billion songs illegally each year - has been discussing tough new guidelines with internet service providers (ISPs) since late last year.

Record labels, music publishers and other copyright holders are involved.

The value of CDs sold in Australia between January and March this year fell by more than 20 per cent - from $100 million to $80 million - compared with the first three months of 2006.

This is despite big-selling albums from Australian Idol winner Damien Leith, Justin Timberlake, The Killers and Snow Patrol.

The remarkable plunge mirrors the US experience.

Continue reading article at its source:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21555941-2,00.html