IFPI sues 8,000 file sharers

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the trade group which represents the interests of record companies worldwide, has filed lawsuits against 8,000 alleged file sharers from 17 countries. First time lawsuits were also filed in Brazil, Mexico and Poland. More than 1 billion music tracks were illegally acquired in Brazil, according to the IFPI. IFPI figures also claim that music sales in Brazil have been cut in half since 2000, when file sharing began to take off in the nation. The IFPI further claims that more than 20 billion songs were illegally downloaded across the world last year.