A new survey has found that the use of legal music download sites has almost doubled from last year, but that surfers are still sharing files with each other in old and new ways.

The report, by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, found that the use of paid-for downloading services rose from 24 per cent of all internet users in 2004 to 43 per cent this year.

However, although 27 per cent of American internet users downloaded files or music in January, 19 per cent got the files from someone else's MP3 player and 28 per cent got them via email.

"All in all, 48 per cent of current downloaders have used sources other than peer-to-peer networks or paid music and movie services to get music or video files," said report author Mary Madden.

"Beyond MP3 players, email and instant messaging, these alternative sources include music and movie websites, blogs and online review sites."

The survey noted that the use of illegal file sharing networks has declined, but pointed out that respondents may be less likely to admit using such networks in the current climate.

In terms of the piracy debate, the majority of those questioned do not believe that the companies producing and running file sharing networks should be prosecuted, and less than one in five thinks that individual users should be targeted.

Nearly two third of respondents believe that the US government is powerless to stop file sharing.