BPI urges universities to block illegal online music downloads. (News).

The record Industry took its fight against piracy to the doors of universities this week, contacting hundreds of academic institutions with guidelines on how to "avoid the risks" of copyright theft on their computer networks.

The BPI issued letters on behalf of the IFPI warning of "injunctions, damages, costs and possible criminal sanctions" against institutions and their heads where systems are used for illegal downloading of music. The guide also warns the practice exposes systems to viruses and jams internet bandwidth.

BPI executive chairman Peter Jamieson says, "This guide underlines the problems of copyright abuse in the academic environment and explains why it is in the Interests of ...