Rock band Bon Jovi is using the web to encourage music fans to buy their lastest album rather than download a pirated copy from the internet.

Fans who buy the album, Bounce, will find a 13-digit serial number printed on the back of the CD booklet.

The number can be used to access a section of the group's web site, which will offer "privileges" such as being able to buy concert tickets before they are released to the general public, view previously unseen footage of the band and download live versions of songs.

The number can be registered only once, which the band's record label hopes will cut down on the number of people downloading the album from file-sharing sites, such as Kazaa, Audiogalaxy and Morpheus.

But copies of Bounce are already available online and have topped the download chart on one site.

Industry estimates suggest more 2.6 billion music files are downloaded illegally every month.

This is not the first attempt by the music industry to use technology to stop piracy.

Last year, BMG Entertainment won the race to produce the first copyright-protected CD on general release when it released Natalie Imbruglia's White Lillies Island.

The CD used cactus data shield protection to prevent people ripping the music to MP3 format but, unfortunately, it was rather too effective.

Many fans complained when their legitimate copies refused to work in some CD and DVD players.

Other performers are taking a public stand against internet piracy.

Britney Spears is fronting a new TV campaign funded by the world's major record labels which will make its debut on screens in the United States later this year.

A print campaign will feature Eminem, Madonna and Elton John.

Microsoft has announced preview of UK musician Peter Gabriel's new album, Up, will be the first-ever in 5.1 surround sound to be available by digital download.

Mr Gabriel has been at the forefront of promoting legitimate music downloads and last December he teamed up with broadband company Tiscali to enable users to rent or buy tracks from his digital music distribution company, OD2.

*www.islandrecords.com/bonjovi/home.las
*windowsmedia.com/mg/music.asp