I'm never sure how reliable these stats are, but new figures from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry suggest illegal downloading in Europe is down. The new stats say that while millions of tracks are still downloaded each month, the total figure is down 25% on this time last year.
The IFPI reckon the decline in illegal downloading is down to a combination of their litigation and educational work, and the arrival of legit download services like iTunes and Napster. IFPI boss Jay Berman told reporters this week: "Today's results show that litigation, combined with the rollout of new legal online music services, is having a real impact on people's attitudes to illegal file-sharing."
On the litigation front, the IFPI also confirmed eighteen of the European file-sharers they had begun legal action against have settled out of court. Seventeen file sharers in Denmark agreed to cease and desist to avoid legal action, paying 1000 euros in compensation to the record labels. A similar case in Germany saw one serial downloader settle for 8000 euros.
Just over 180 anti-downloading lawsuits are still proceeding in Europe, though more are expected to settle out of court. Meanwhile 30 criminal cases being brought against individual downloaders by public prosecutors in Italy are in the process of going to court.
Discussing the latest legal proceedings the IFPI is undertaking against illegal downloaders, the industry association confirmed its intention to proceed with similar action in other countries, including the UK, France and Japan.