Thousands of file-sharers face legal action

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The first 500 who ignored the letters would face immediate legal action brought on behalf of five games developers, including Atari, Techland and Codemasters, it said.

No one at Davenport Lyons could immediately be reached to comment on the Times report.

The suspected file-sharers were identified by a Swiss forensic computer company Logistep. It searched for the users' IP address, a unique number allocated to every computer that connects to the Internet.

The BPI, a music industry body, says more than 6 million people in Britain regularly download music illegally, cutting profits for record companies and making it harder for them to invest in new music.

Supporters of file-sharing dispute that and say it could boost sales by making it easier for people to hear new music.

"For the copyright holder, it's like free advertising," said Gerry, a contributor to an online debate on file-sharing at www.reuters.co.uk. "It really is a new world out there and it's time the new reality was accepted for what it is."

(Editing by Steve Addison)

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