Music, film industries team up to help internet users stay safe and legal

September 22, 2005

Digital File Check is a new software tool that helps people to clean up their computers and avoid illegal file-sharing
A new campaign, endorsed by international business, calls on employers to stop copyright theft in the workplace

London, 22 September 2005 - Music fans who want be safe and legal on the internet are today offered a new freely-available software programme that will help them stop their computer being used for illegal file-swapping of copyrighted music and movies.

Digital File Check is a simple educational tool that aims to guide computer users, many of whom might be new to the world of online music. Digital File Check helps to show how they, or their families, colleagues and friends, can enjoy music and film legally and responsibly without risking legal action by copyright holders.

Digital File Check helps to remove or block any of the unwanted "file-sharing" programmes commonly used to distribute copyrighted files illegally. It also allows the user to delete copyrighted music and video files from the "shared folders" of the computer from where they are commonly swapped illegally on the internet.

Digital File Check has been developed by IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide, in conjunction with the Motion Picture Association, representing the film industry. DFC will be available online and on CD over the coming months in countries including Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

John Kennedy, Chairman and CEO of IFPI said: "Digital File Check is an educational tool aimed at making life easier for people who want to enjoy music responsibly and legally on the internet, or who want their families, friends and colleagues to do so.

"This is a timely initiative: it comes after months of warning and information campaigns making it clear that file-swapping copyrighted music is illegal and could involve fines and prosecutions. And it comes at a time when downloading music legally has never been easier, with over 350 sites offering over a million tracks".

Dan Glickman, MPAA President and CEO said: "We want to arm companies, parents and responsible computer-users with a simple resource to help them detect file swapping software and get lists of the movie and other files stored on their business and home computers. Digital File Check is easy to use and can help people prevent their employees, children and others from illegally downloading and swapping movies."

Digital File Check is an initiative aimed at all computer users, as well as organisations. It could be especially useful for parents who want to encourage their children to enjoy music responsibly on the internet. It is free, voluntary and for private use only and does not tip-off any anti-piracy organisations.

Companies called on to clean up their networks

In separate project endorsed by the International Chamber of Commerce and launched today, IFPI, MPA and the International Video Federation (IVF) are also publishing a new guide for employers making clear their responsibilities to clean their computer networks from copyright infringement. The "Copyright and Security Guide for Companies and Governments" will be distributed to companies internationally, starting over the next few weeks in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Sweden and Thailand.

Guy Sebban, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, said: "Companies and enterprises internationally, many of whom depend on intellectual property rights to do their business, will welcome this initiative by the recording and audiovisual industries. Online copyright theft should not be tolerated in the workplace or by employers, whatever the business sector and whatever the country involved. The new Copyright and Security Guide 2005 clearly explains what actions companies need to take to avoid legal and security risks on their networks, and in doing so it helps promote respect of intellectual property rights and responsible attitudes towards the downloading of copyrighted works from the internet."

The guide comes with a joint "call to action" to company chiefs from John Kennedy, Dan Glickman and Charlotte Lund-Thomsen, respective heads of IFPI, MPA and IVF:

They write in a joint letter launching the guide: "In a new initiative, our industries are turning to the responsibilities in this area of companies and organisations. Illegal peer-to-peer distribution is not just happening on the home PC. Employees are involved in their work place as well. This not only wastes the organisation's time and money - it can put them at risk of legal prosecution. Today employers have no excuse for being uninformed of these risks, and for not addressing them in a responsible manner."

Stepping up the online awareness campaign

Digital File Check and the Copyright and Security Guide are the latest in a series of music sector education initiatives aimed at raising public awareness of the legal and security issues around online music. They follow the campaign by children's internet charity Childnet International "Young People, Music and the Internet", rolled out with support from across the music sector in June.

The Childnet campaign, supported by the cross-sector alliance of rights holders www.pro-music.org, highlights not only the legal risks of illegal file-sharing but also the problems of harmful content and privacy and security risks that come with many unauthorised peer-to-peer networks.

Stephen Carrick-Davies, CEO of Childnet International, said: "We know that parents are often unaware of what their children are doing on the internet. For this reason we welcome tools such as the Digital File Check, as we believe it will help parents diagnose their computer to see what files may have been downloaded and - equally importantly - give them an opportunity to have a real dialogue with their children about downloading, copyright infringements and the general use of the Internet. Childnet's leaflet "Young People, Music and the Internet: a guide for parents about P2P, file-sharing and downloading" can also help (see www.childnet-int.org/music)"

The software, which IFPI and MPA aim to roll out across Europe, has been welcomed by the. Dutch Member of the European Parliament with responsibities for Consumer Affairs and the EU Internal Market, Toine Manders: ""I applaud this initiative. In many cases people are not aware of having illegal on unsafe content on their home computer. Digital File Check helps to put power back into the hands of individuals as it enables them to find and block access to any file-sharing services that may carry illegal or unsafe content."

IFPI and its members are actively promoting new legal and commercial ways of downloading music - including legitimate peer-to-peer. At the same time the industry has successfully taken thousands of legal actions against people illegally uploading music on services such as Kazaa, eDonkey and Gnutella. So far there have been more than 14,000 legal actions against alleged illegal uploaders in 12 countries.

Notes to Editors:

Where to find Digital File Check and the Copyright and Security Guide:
A digital version of Digital File Check can be found today at the websites of IFPI and at the IFPI-affiliated industry bodies in all participating countries. It is also available in seven languages on a disc available upon request by email to press-office@ifpi.org (until stocks last).

To download Digital File Check:
IFPI
At the IFPI-affiliated industry bodies in all participating countries.

A CD-Rom of Digital File Check is also available in limited quantities upon request by email to press-office@ifpi.org

To download a copy of the Copyright Security Guide for Companies and Government Institutions:
IFPI
MPAA
At the IFPI-affiliated industry bodies in all participating countries.
Further supporting quotes:
Timothy Kirkhope, UK Conservative MEP:

"If Digital File Check helps to launch a debate about responsible ways of enjoying music and movies on the Internet, it will have served an important purpose."

Robert Holleyman, President and CEO, Business Software Alliance:

"Piracy threatens the promise and potential of so many creators, entrepreneurs, inventors and technologists. Efforts, as demonstrated by todayâ€™s launch, to deter piracy and promote intellectual property rights benefit everyone. Illegal distribution of software via file-sharing technology within the workplace is not only a problem in itself but it also uses valuable bandwidth, poses a security threat and affects productivity of the businesses in which it takes place."
Digital File Check - what is it?
Digital File Check is a free software designed to help internet users enjoy music, video and image files on the internet safely and legally.

Digital File Check will:
1. Identify and easily uninstall or block unwanted 'file-sharing'- or 'peer-to-peer' (p2p) - software on your computer. Some p2p software can slow or damage your PC and can be used to illegally trade files.
2. Search your computer and remove any music, film or image files that may have been copied or distributed without your permission or that of the copyright holders.
3. 3)Go through a simple inventory of all music, movie and picture files on your computer.
Digital File Check is a free tool for private use at home at your discretion - it does not tip-off any anti-piracy groups or authorities.

A more detailed description of the software can be found in the "help" file of the programme and is provided in annex
Copyright and Security Guide for Companies and Governments - what is it?
The Copyright and Security Guide for Companies and Governments, produced jointly by the music, film and video industries, gives organisations clear and simple advice on how they can identify and avoid copyright theft on their systems.

IFPI, MPA and IVF strongly recommend that, if organisation administrations have not taken action already, they do so now. The Guide will be distributed to employers and business organisations internationally, with a cover letter to chief executives and department heads.
Programme Introduction and FAQ
Request separate factsheets from press-office@ifpi.org or here.
Online music in facts and figures
1. The legal online music market has been taking off worldwide in the last year. Single track downloads rose to over 180 million in the first half of 2005, up from 57 million in the same period of 2004. There are now over 350 legitimate online music sites globally, up threefold on one year ago. These sites are listed on the pro-music website, www.pro-music.org
2. Internet piracy, and in particular illegal 'file-sharing', has been a major factor in in falling sales of music globally. Music sales fell 21% in the four years between 2000 and 2004. There are an estimated 900 million infringing music files available on unauthorised peer-to-peer services (June 2005).

Pictures

Please contact press-office@ifpi.org if you want a jpeg of the following:

Digital File Check Main Menu

2005 Copyright and Security Guide
for Companies & Governments

Childnet Parents leaflet
'Young People, Music and the Internet: a guide for parents about P2P, file-sharing and downloading' provides parents with the essential facts about peer-to-peer, file-sharing and music downloading. It explains what P2P services are, outlines the security and legal risks to children and the family computer as well as the benefits, and gives practical advice on what is needed to help ensure that children's enjoyment of music on the internet is safe and legal. The guide also gives advice on the rapidly expanding legal online sites where music fans can download music safely and legally.

See pro-music.org/guide or www.childnet-int.org/music for full electronic version of the leaflet, stories and illustrations. Versions are available for the following regions: "international" and UK, USA, Germany, Italy, Spain, Singapore. New countries will be added in the coming months.

For further information and interviews contact:
Adrian Strain/Julie Harari - IFPI 020 7878 7935
Email: press-office@ifpi.org