Record fine for filesharer "is deterrent for others".

RIAA wins action against Kazaa P2P filesharer and IFPI believes it will serve as a deterrent to UK uploaders

The IFPI believes that the unprecedented fine of more than #100,000 given to an illegal filesharer in the Unites States will serve as a strong deterrent for those in the UK who may be tempted to illegally download music.

Jammie Thomas was fined a total of $222,000 (#109,003) after being found guilty by a Minnesota jury of distributing 24 songs online through the Kazaa filesharing application, in a case brought by the Recording Industry Association Of America.

She was the first person accused of illegal filesharing to refuse the option of an out-of-court settlement in favour of pursuing the allegations through the courts.

The fine represents a sum of $9,250 (#4,533) for each of the songs illegally shared and was imposed by a jury. This, according to IFPI vice president for litigation and regulatory affairs Jo Oliver, demonstrates that the public realises the severity of filesharing.

"The fine was decided by the jury who in their wisdom could see the damage of filesharing. Not just by one person uploading it but by all the people across the world downloading it," she says.

"This type of activity is equally illegal in the UK as anywhere else. The verdict is not surprising and we hope the case acts as a deterrent to other people across the world."