The Irish Recorded Music Association is to pursue cases against 17 people for illegally uploading music onto the internet.
IRMA says it is unhappy at being forced to take the action, but illegal file sharing is effectively stealing the livelihoods of the creators of music. In the last four years the Irish music industry has recorded a 19% drop in sales.
The launch of legal actions in Ireland is part of an announcement from the international recording industry that it is stepping up litigation against illegal file sharers internationally. IFPI, the organisation representing the recording industry worldwide, today announced a total of 963 new actions launched in 11 countries in Europe and Asia.
