Contrary to popular belief, filesharing in Canada may not be as rampant as some claim. A recent survey presented to the Copyright Board of Canada shows not just an anomoly of low numbers but, a steady decline in filesharing. The survey, performed on behalf of the Canadian Private Copying Collective has tracked P2P filesharing, as part of the larger view of music copying habits, since 2001.

Michael Geist writes, "file sharing activity is in steady decline in Canada. The survey, [most recently] conducted in June 2006, finds that just 14 percent of Canadians have downloaded music in the last 12 months, down from 15 percent in 2005, 19 percent in 2004, 21 percent in 2003, and 21 percent in 2002. It goes without saying that this finding comes despite the absence of lawsuits, the absence of copyright reform, and the continual (yet questionable) claims that Canada is a world leader in file sharing."

So, in Canada (where the industry doesn't can't sue people) P2P use is declining while in the US (where the industry sues everyone, eventually) P2P use is on the rise. Not to be all like post hoc ergo propter hoc but, does anyone see a pattern?