G8 pledges crack-down on piracy and counterfeiting

Each G8 nation has agreed to examine the problem of international differences on intellectual property rights (IPR) and its enforcement.

As part of a commitment to strengthen and enforce IPR, each nation has made a commitment to take a tougher stance on piracy, counterfeiting and other forms of IPR crime.

This could include breaching copyright law such as downloading music illegally from peer-to-peer sites. The communiqué issued at the G8 summit in St Petersburg pledged to implement a number of goals.

This includes each country setting up a website that outlines their laws on intellectual property and their law enforcement regime.

They will also examine ways to strengthen the international legal framework on intellectual property law enforcement.

The G8 countries - the UK, Russia, the US, France, Japan, Germany, Canada and Italy – will also commission the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to compile a report outlining the costs and damage caused by piracy and counterfeiting.

The UK is currently undertaking a review of the UK's IPR under the Gowers Review.

However, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), welcomed the international commitment to "get tough " on IPR infringement.

As the UK industry trade body for the recording industry it is already waging its own battle against copyright infringement. It has targeted individual file sharers and internet service providers .

Before the G8 summit it wrote to Margaret Beckett, the UK Foreign Secretary asking her to raise the case of AllofMP3.com with the Russian government.

AllofMP3.com is a Russian-based website which has been selling downloads to UK consumers without the BPI claims is the permission of or remuneration to UK record companies and artists.

Two weeks ago the BPI was given permission by the High Court to sue AllofMP3.com in the UK despite the fact it is based in Russia.

BPI chairman Peter Jamieson said: “In an increasingly global market place and with the phenomenal rise of the internet, intellectual property law enforcement increasingly needs to take place at an international level.

"That’s why we welcome the priority given to piracy and counterfeiting by the G8 countries.

"Digital technology and globalisation pose real challenges to IP industries like music and we will continue to work very closely with our international federation, the IFPI, to highlight these issues."