This weeks news...

Report from the IFPI that paid downloads now amount to 6% of the music market, totalling $1.1 billion for 2005.
A. Pasick, Digital music sales triple in 2005, Yahoo News, 19 January 2006

Students sued for using i2hub want the operator to pay their damages of $157,500 demanded by the record industry - the operator says the EULA clearly disclaimed liability
Editor, Students want file-sharing operator to pay copyright claims, Silicon Valley, 17 January 2006

Singapore commences legal action against three uploaders:
Editor, Singaporean Authorities Issue First Round of Downloading Suits, Digital Music News, 15 January 2006

Korea effectively decriminalises individual file sharing:
C. Ah-young, Commercial Online Music File Swappers Face Criminal Charges, The Korea Times, 16 January 2006

France takes a step back from collective licensing proposal from December 2005, may introduce scaled warnings and minor fines for individual file sharers. A softer stance may also be taken in relation to DRM:
Editor, France rethinks digital copyright bill, Yahoo News, 15 January 2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060115/tc_afp/franceinternetlaws

A UK consumer rights organisation has started lobbying for consumer protection against DRM
Editor, Fears raised over digital rights, BBC News, 16 January 2006