Police in Germany have charged 3500 users of the eDonkey file sharing network in the biggest single action against the illegal distribution of music online. Those charged all made large quantities of music, sometimes up to 8000 tracks, available via the P2P network. A spokesman for the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry says that some of those charged could face up to five years in prison, which may well be scare tactics (however much you object to the sharing of music online, surely locking file sharers up isn't a great use of prison facilities), though many could face hefty fines if found guilty.
Welcoming the police action against the illegal filesharers, Michael Haentjes of Edel Music, speaking as a German representative for the IFPI, said: "Police today searched 130 premises to gather evidence in the investigations, which have been running for several months. The actions are coordinated by the Public Prosecution Service Of Cologne and the Police Authority of Bergheim. On behalf of the recording industry, IFPI thanks the police for a great piece of teamwork and a superb investigation success".
IFPI boss John Kennedy added: "No-one should be surprised that we are stepping up our campaign in this way. Internet piracy has hurt the whole music community in Germany, with legitimate sales falling by a third in just five years."
The criminal proceedings follow over 7000 civil lawsuits that have been brought against suspected filesharers in Germany in the last three years.