"He didn't hide in a back alley," said Rose, who helped prepare Ellis' defence. "He did it with what he believed were good intentions."

According to The Guardian. however, Kennedy described the verdict as a "terrible disappointment". He said UK legislation is "out of touch with where life is these days."

"We will find other ways of going about it," he warned.

According to the IFPI annual report, roughly a quarter of all recorded music industry revenues now come from digital sales, but illegal file-sharing and other forms of online piracy are causing "severe damage".

In a statement, Kennedy said: "It would be great to report that these innovations have been rewarded by market growth, more investment in artists, and more jobs. Sadly, this is not the case.