The US music industry is threatening legal action against hundreds of individual computer users who illegally share music files online.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), citing significant sales declines, said it will begin to search Internet file-sharing networks to identify music fans who offer "substantial" collections of MP3 song files for downloading.
It expects to file at least several hundred lawsuits seeking financial damages within eight to 10 weeks.
Executives for the RIAA, the Washington-based lobbying group that represents major labels, would not say how many songs on a user's computer might qualify for a lawsuit.
The new campaign comes just weeks after US appeals court rulings that require Internet providers to identify subscribers suspected of illegally sharing music and movie files.
The RIAA's president, Mr Cary Sherman, said: "It's [sharing music files] stealing. It's both wrong and illegal," Mr Sherman said. Alluding to the court decisions, he said Internet users who believe they can hide behind an alias online are mistaken.
Sharman Networks, which makes the popular Kazaa software and operates one of the world's largest file-sharing networks, said in a statement: "It is unfortunate that the RIAA has chosen to declare war on its customers by engaging in protracted and expensive litigation".
Sharman said it was interested in a business relationship with music labels and could protect their songs from illegal downloads using technology.
PA