What effect have music industry lawsuits had on the number of people who are downloading music online?

Like so many issues in the controversy, it depends on who you ask. A study that came out last month found the number of Americans downloading music has dropped by half from just six months earlier.

That indicates that 17 million fewer people were grabbing free copies of their favorite songs online.

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But some experts and users say file swapping is actually increasing. They say those who are downloading are being more secretive. At least two research firms say more than 150 million songs are being downloaded free every month.

Some have said that part of the decrease in free downloading is because there are now several industry-backed services selling music online, often for 99 cents per song.

The Recording Industry Association of America has sued more than 1,400 people since September. The latest batch was more than 500 filed this month against people in four cities.

Kazaa Lawsuits

Meanwhile, record labels down under are trying to come out on top in their legal battle against the file-sharing service Kazaa. The labels are asking a judge to allow their copyright infringement case to proceed even though there's a similar suit being carried forward in the United States.

The Australian music industry wants the federal court to shut down Kazaa. But owners of Kazaa have asked that the case be held up until there's a judgment rendered in the U.S. courts.