Music industry responds to Spanish ruling

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 7 Nov 2006 at 13:07

IFPI criticises media coverage of the case. Specifically, the inference that the ruling affected the status of p2p file sharing.

The recording industry body International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has responded to the ruling of a Spanish judge in a music sharing case. It has expressed its disappointment at the judge defining the distribution of music CD-Rs as 'private copying', on the grounds there was no profit involved.

It has also criticised media coverage of the case. Specifically, the inference that the ruling affected the status of p2p file sharing within Spain.

'Swapping copyright-infringing music through peer-to-peer networks remains illegal in Spain as it is throughout Europe and virtually everywhere else,' said an IFPI spokesperson. 'The Spanish Justice Minister has confirmed in a clear statement that file-sharing copyrighted music without permission is illegal.'

The IFPI insists the case did not involve p2p file-sharing, but rather the physical distribution of CDs that were advertised on the Internet.

The case was brought by Promusicae, Spain's record industry association, which said that it has appealed the decision.

But, as we reported, all is not lost for the record companies anyway. The Spanish government plans to introduce new laws that would outlaw private copying.