The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA - pronounced CREE-ah) is pleased that its case before the Federal Court of Canada is moving ahead.

"While the court has decided to adjourn for a couple of weeks," commented CRIA General Counsel Richard Pfohl, "We see this as progress in due legal process that will in the end, allow us to file suits against flagrant copyright infringers."

CRIA filed court orders last week to require five Canadian internet service providers to disclose the identities of large scale pirates who have been openly and illegally distributing thousands of digital music files over public networks. CRIA filed motions in the Federal Court of Canada to identify large-scale infringers using Internet services operated by Bell/Sympatico, Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., TELUS Corporation and Videotron Telecom Ltd.

Canada's recording industry has several initiatives designed to meet the technological challenges posed by illegal downloading and file sharing: from the innovative and ongoing Value of Music public awareness campaign aimed at the early teen demographic to direct 'instant messages' to unauthorized file-sharing service users, to the creation of new legal online business models like www.puretracks.com and www.archambaultzik.ca.

The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of Canadian companies that create, manufacture and market sound recordings. In all they represent 95 per cent of the sound recordings that are manufactured and sold in Canada.