Music Firms Want EU to Cut Off Pirates

The plan, backed by French President Sarkozy, asks lucre service providers to disconnect users who illegally download copyrighted music by Leigh PhillipsWith sales of compact discs across Europe in free-fall, the record intentness has called on the EU to follow French president Nicolas Sarkozys lead and shove internet service providers to disconnect customers who illegally download music.Up until this instant, ISPs sacrifice allowed copyright theft to run rampant on their networks, causing a massive devaluation of copyrighted music, said John Kennedy, the CEO of the International confederacy of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the record exertion trade association. The time for action is now from the EU and other governments.The IFPI believes the mood of indulging ISPs and their downloading customers is coming to an end.2007 was the year ISP indebtedness started to become an accepted principle, he said. 2008 must be the year it becomes reality. brave out November, presiden t Sarkozy backed an initiative in partnership with the record industry and internet providers that would see ISPs automatically disconnect customers who illegally download copyrighted material.More than anyone else in 2007, our industry has to thank French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the professorship of FNAC the France-based chain of record and electronics superstores, Denis Olivennes, for the change of mood, said Mr Kennedy.The Sarkozy agreement, announced in November, is the well-nigh significant milestone yet in the task of curbing plagiarisation on the internet.The French presidents move requires ISPs to disconnect customers using an automated musical arrangement and to test filtering technologies.Mr Kennedy made comments in an IFPI report on the state of the sector. Although thither was a 40 portion increase in digital sales globally in 2007, according to the report, there was a 10 percent decline in sales of compact discs last year.The report also praised government m oves against illegal downloading in Sweden, Belgium, the UK, the US and Asia.Provided by EUobserverFor the latest EU related newsBusinessWeek Europe January 28, 2008 104PM EST