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London (pte038/28.07.2005/12:03) - According to a study done by the music research firm The Leading Question, people who download music illegally from the Internet actually spend four-and-a-half times more on legal digital music than those who do not indulge in illegal file sharing.
The study involved 600 music fans, who also own mobile phones and computers. Most said that downloading tracks illegally has led them to buy singles and albums online.
The music industry, which has been combating illegal file sharing for the last six years, insists that such law breakers have contributed to flagging record sales. The results of the survey now put a question mark above the validity of this statement.
The British Phonographic Industry http://www.bpi.co.uk/ has so far successfully sued 90 people for several thousand pounds for sharing pirated tracks over the Internet.
Paul Brindley, director of The Leading Question, said, "The 2005 Speakerbox research shows that music fans who break piracy laws are highly valuable customers."
"There's a myth that all illegal downloaders are mercenaries hell-bent on breaking the law in pursuit of free music. In reality they are often hardcore fans who are extremely enthusiastic about adopting paid-for services as long as they are suitably compelling," he added.
The BPI will continue to pursue illegal downloaders.
"It's encouraging that many illegal file sharers are starting to use legal services," said BPI communications manager Matt Phillips. "But our concern is that file sharers' expenditure on music overall is down, a fact borne out by study after study."
"While a third of illegal file sharers may buy more music, around two-thirds buy less, and that two-thirds tends to include people who were the heaviest buyers. That's why we need to continue our carrot and stick approach to the problem of illegal filesharing."
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