Court orders file-swapping program owners to block pirated content

A federal court ruled Monday that the popular file-swapping program Kazaa infringes on copyright and gave its purveyors two months to alter the system so its users can no longer engage in music piracy.

Hailed as a victory by the recording industry, the court's decision has implications well beyond the borders of Australia, where Kazaa executives are based, due to the Internet's global nature.

Federal Court Judge Murray Wilcox determined that Kazaa's owners and distributors, led by Sharman Networks Ltd., took no action to rein in illegal activity despite posted warnings on their Web site urging Kazaa users not to swap copyright material.

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