The British record industry may sue internet song-swappers as part of a new campaign against online piracy.
Andrew Yeates, director general of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) trade group, said it's hoping to encourage new, legitimate services.
Record firms in the US have already started cases against file-sharers, reports the BBC.
But the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) actions generated bad publicity after it emerged a 12-year-old girl had been targeted, along with a 66-year-old grandmother who was alleged to have been downloading rap records.
Mr Yeates said any legal crackdown would be proportional, and talks were taking place with internet service providers across Europe to streamline a process for identifying those who distribute the most songs.
"We want to increase awareness of the legal implications of file-sharing. If these are not working, there has to be a degree of enforcement," he said.
Industry-backed services such as iTunes and the revamped Napster are widely expected to be launched in Europe later this year.
Mr Yeates said if they were successful and illicit song-swapping levels fell, legal action may not be necessary.