UK file-sharers sued

It has begun in Britain now too. Twenty-three file-sharers paid an average 2,200 pounds ($4,232) each to settle out of court with the British Phonographic Industry, which sued them for copyright infringment, the BBC reports. "The UK Internet users, ranging from a student to a local councillor [17 men and 6 women between 22 and 58 years of age], have admitted putting out up to 9,000 songs each for other fans to download." Three more cases may actually go to court. Some of those who settled were parents acting on behalf of their children, the BBC adds. Fifteen used the Kazaa peer-to-peer network, four used Imesh, two used Grokster, one used WinMX and one was on BearShare.

Over in East Asia, some 100 Chinese music celebrities appeared before a near-capacity crowd at Beijing's Capital Stadium Saturday night, asking for public support in China's "fight against rampant music piracy," the official People's Daily reports. "Organizers said 150 million more [fans] watched on television." In Korea, Bugs Music, the country's online music provider agreed to "sell 60% of the company to local record companies to settle its lengthy copyright dispute with the music industry," the Korea Herald reports. [Thanks to BNA Internet Law for pointing the Asia stories out.]