Swiss IFPI: Game Over for P2P Infringers

The Swiss division of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) says it's all over for P2P- users that download copyright protected works. At least, that's the final aim of their anti-piracy campaign Game Over. IFPI Swiss says (semi-)professional P2P-infringers are now under control, and that it does not exist anymore in Switzerland.

The focus of IFPI Swiss' legal actions will now move to private infringers (so-called Raubkopierer), concentrating on those who download the most for starters. The tactic is well-know: registrating IP-addresses, warning the user with instant messaging, offering a settlement, starting a civil lawsuit with fines between 3,000 and 10,000 Swiss Franks if no settlement is reached and in grave cases a criminal lawsuit.

IFPI Swiss says that until now it had "trusted on the principle of individual responsibility embodied in Switzerland" but that this did not lead to he expected respect for intellectual property. So, now the Swiss are putting some tradition back into the internet, the lack of which was deemed one of its values. The projection of incumbent legal and socio-economic structures continues. Until the game is over.

- - -

IFPI Swiss press release [German] (the picture above shows how "Raubkopierer" will be tracked)
Thru Institut fur Medien- und Urheberrecht [German]