The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) has filed its argument in its appeal of the 31 March court decision denying CRIA's request that Internet Service Providers reveal the identities of alleged flagrant uploaders of digital music.

** Please note, the summary of the appeal can be found in paragraphs 4 and 19 of the appeal document here **

In February, CRIA filed motions to require five Canadian Internet service providers to disclose the identities of subscribers alleged to be large-scale infringers distributing thousands of digital music files to millions of strangers. On 31 March 2004, the court denied CRIA's motion. It is expected that the Federal Court of Appeal will hear the case in the fall.

"This appeal is significant for virtually all Canadian intellectual property owners," said CRIA President, Brian Robertson. "It is no surprise that groups as diverse as the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors' Association and a coalition of software developers have applied to be heard in this appeal."

On a per-capita basis, the Canadian music industry has been among the hardest hit in the world by illegal file sharing. Retail sales are down by more than $465 million since 1999. In the last 12 months alone, staff layoffs at record companies have been at the 25 per cent plus level.

Canada's recording industry has launched several initiatives designed to meet the technological challenges posed by unauthorized online music distribution: from an innovative and ongoing educational campaign aimed at the early teen demographic, to direct 'instant messages' to unauthorized file-sharing service users, to the creation of new legal online business models like www.archambaultzik.ca, www.napster.ca and www.puretracks.com.

The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of Canadian companies that create, manufacture and market sound recordings. In all they represent 95 per cent of the sound recordings that are manufactured and sold in Canada.