RECORD INDUSTRY HITTING BEST CUSTOMERS WITH DOWNLOAD WAR

Independent, UK - eople who illegally download music from the internet also spend more money on music than anyone else, according to a new study. The survey found that those who admit illegally downloading music spent an average of L77 a year on music – L33 more than those who claim that they never download music dishonestly.

The findings suggest that plans by the Secretary of State for Business, Peter Mandelson, to crack down on illegal downloaders by threatening to cut their internet connections with a "three strikes and you're out" rule could harm the music industry by punishing its core customers.

An estimated seven million UK users download files illegally every year. The record industry's trade association, the British Phonographic Industry, believes this copyright infringement will cost the industry L200m this year.