Industry acts on games piracy

The computer games industry is planning to take legal action against 25,000 people in the UK who have downloaded the latest releases for free.

Five of the world's top games developers will demand a £300 out-of-court settlement from each person, and will take them to court if they refuse to pay.

The unprecedented move by Atari, Topware Interactive, Reality Pump, Techland and Codemasters follows a surge in illegal internet downloads.

They have appointed law firm Davenport Lyons to deal with individuals suspected of breaching copyright, identifying them by asking internet service providers for personal details of file-sharing website users.

It is estimated six million people in Britain share games illegally on the internet. This week Isabela Barwinska became the first person in the UK ordered to pay for an illegal download. She must pay £16,000 in damages to Topware for downloading Dream Pinball.

Roger Billens, a partner at Davenport Lyons, said: "Our clients are incensed by the level of illegal downloading. Hopefully people will think twice if they risk being taken to court."