The UK's intellectual property minister has angered the recording industry association by making an analogy between music and complimentary soap

The UK's intellectual property minister and its major recording industry association are embroiled in a heated argument. The question, it seems, is whether or not British music is a bar of soap.

The furore stems from comments made by Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy, speaking about legislation that would force ISPs to police and punish filesharing. "We can't have a system where we're talking about arresting teenagers in their bedrooms," Lammy told the Times. "People can rent a room in a hotel and leave with a bar of soap – there's a big difference between leaving with a bar of soap and leaving with the television."

Britain's biggest label association, the BPI, isn't having any of it. Music creators are "sure to be insulted at the analogy between British music and complimentary soap from hotels," sniffed Richard Mollet, BPI director of public affairs, in a Billboard interview.

The BPI is currently lobbying the government for stricter anti-piracy legislation. "We are appalled to see him falsely raising the prospect of arresting people in their bedrooms and fail to see what place this has in the discussion," Mollet said.

The industry awaits the government's Digital Britain report, due 29 January, which will make recommendations for dealing with copyright claims, internet providers and the public. According to early reports – which were er, leaked and shared among industry reps – Digital Britain may recommend the creation of a new body to mediate between rights-holders and ISPs.

They may also suggest that people leave the bloody soap where they found it.