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95 percent of music downloads are unauthorized, says IFPI

17 January 2009 4:42 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 19 comments

According to a new report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), 95 percent of all online music downloads are in fact unauthorized and can be considered piracy.

The trade group notes that piracy is "its biggest challenge" as it leaves artists and record companies without royalty payments.

The report noted that worldwide music revenue shrank by 7 percent last year but did add that digital downloads continued strong growth.

The IFPI says over 40 billion music files were shared "illegally" over the past year in comparison to the 1.4 billion tracks purchased legally via iTunes, Amazon MP3 and other online shops.

John Kennedy, the CEO of the IFPI, added:

"There is a momentous debate going on about the environment on which our business, and all the people working in it, depends.

"Governments are beginning to accept that, in the debate over 'free content' and engaging ISPs in protecting intellectual property rights, doing nothing is not an option if there is to be a future for commercial digital content."

Permalink to this article | Topic: Lawsuits & Legislation

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Discuss this article!
domie (Member) 17 January 2009 4:59
40 billion music files shared illegally ? hmm would like to see how they invented those stats seeing as it assumes an average of 7 songs for every single carbon unit / human being on the planet . [ + quote]
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 17 January 2009 5:00
Where did the IFPI get their numbers ? Pirates R Us ? [ + quote]
Blackjax (Member) 17 January 2009 6:14
I'll wager it's the same place their head is located... dark and smelly! [ + quote]
pensfan12 (Newbie) 17 January 2009 6:57
It would be interesting to know the real numbers of how much music is actually pirated in a year. If only it was possible. [ + quote]
Leningrad (Member) 17 January 2009 11:29
*Originally posted by domie:* 40 billion music files shared illegally ? hmm would like to see how they invented those stats seeing as it assumes an average of 7 songs for every single carbon unit / human being on the planet . yeah consider all those poor people in africa, they probably never seen a pc. [ + quote]
sssharp (Junior Member) 17 January 2009 12:43
They (all involved company's) can always fire the artists and start from scratch. That will eliminate any future downloads and allow their compaints to say "what no one is downloading any of our music". [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 17 January 2009 14:12
You can not control distribution with antiquated mindsets, "unauthorized" merely means unnerved. You have to change the business model and copyright law to force business to ignore the supposed loses and focusing on creating business models that make profit. [ + quote]
vballstud (Inactive) 17 January 2009 15:17
New poll results released... 99% of the IFPI are idiots. [ + quote]
Leningrad (Member) 17 January 2009 15:20
*Originally posted by vballstud:* New poll results released... 99% of the IFPI are idiots. what about the other 1%? [ + quote]
mike.m (Member) 17 January 2009 22:58
I would like to know just how they got these numbers. It goes to show how much your privacy is really secured on the internet. [ + quote]
sgriesch (Junior Member) 18 January 2009 0:50
*Quote:* *Originally posted by vballstud:* New poll results released... 99% of the IFPI are idiots. what about the other 1%? They're just numb nuts. [ + quote]
DXR88 (Senior Member) 18 January 2009 1:39
*Originally posted by mike.m:* I would like to know just how they got these numbers. It goes to show how much your privacy is really secured on the internet. yeah, i feel more secure already. [ + quote]
jeff_2 (Newbie) 18 January 2009 7:33
There is no legal or ethical method they could have used to find these figuers. I think its pathetic that they have nothing better to do than estimate figuers they cannot prove [ + quote]
Matt555 (Newbie) 18 January 2009 11:54
*Quote:* *Originally posted by vballstud:* New poll results released... 99% of the IFPI are idiots. what about the other 1%? The other 1% were on lunch at the time of the survey. [ + quote]
rotorbabe (Newbie) 18 January 2009 12:57
Do I detect the shadow of Universal hovering over these stats? [ + quote]
DXR88 (Senior Member) 18 January 2009 17:23
*Originally posted by rotorbabe:* Do I detect the shadow of Universal hovering over these stats? no but i do smell the crap,steaming from the numbers they pulled out of there ass for the governments good job Sh1twad award. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 18 January 2009 17:24
rotorbabe (Newbie) 19 January 2009 6:25
The major record companies are already controlling what we can buy (stifling a lot of the truly inventive music out there)so it makes sense that they would be at the heart of the decission to prosecute as many downloaders as possible. [ + quote]
bassdog69 (Newbie) 25 January 2009 18:19
According to a new report by me, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) BLOWS. [ + quote]
Mez (Senior Member) 26 January 2009 9:35
I bet they are hacking into computers. I also bet that the numbers are at least close to right if not low. I am sure they have inflated their numbers. Only a very small group is going to pay $1 a tune. Less than 40:1 seems a bit low. I would figure 100:1 is more realistic. [ + quote]