Online file-sharing 'a legal grey area'

19th May 2008

The legal status of internet downloads remains difficult to determine, one industry commentator has commented.

Speaking after an online music provider was sued by nine record labels for infringement of copyright, Ben Camm-Jones highlighted the hazy legal status of such services.

"Although precedents have been set, we're still fairly unclear whether what they're doing is wrong or not," he said.

Project Playlist is facing legal action from record companies including Interscope Records, Virgin Records America and Atlantic Recording.

Statistics revealed by NPD in January showed that 70 per cent of US nine to 14-year-olds downloaded music on the web, with 49 per cent using iTunes - the legal service from Apple - and 26 per cent using free feature LimeWire.

According to Mr Camm-Jones, a universal framework is needed in which the legality of music download provision can be assessed in a manner appropriate to the borderless nature of the web.