A selection of the UK's biggest Internet service providers have today reached an agreement with the music industry to help combat online piracy.
The ISPs, BT, Virgin, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse, have agreed to help the music industry clamp down on the illegal sharing of music via the Internet. The process is believed to begin with thousands of letters being sent to customers suspected of music piracy.
The music industry is ultimately looking for repeat offenders to be disconnected from the Internet by their ISP. Though ISPs themselves are reluctant to take such action, Feargal Sharkey, chief executive of British Music Rights, hails today's agreement as "a first step, and a very big step, in what we all acknowledge is going to be quite a long process".
The ISPs are believed to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding drawn up by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. The memorandum is believed to require each ISP to do more to help prevent illegal music sharing.
How much an ISP will be willing to do, however, remains unknown. Charles Dunstone, CEO of Carphone Warehouse, has said:
"Our position is very clear. We are the conduit that gives users access to the Internet. We do not control the Internet, nor do we control what our users do on the Internet."
"I cannot foresee any circumstances in which we would voluntarily disconnect a customer's account on the basis of a third party alleging a wrongdoing," he adds.
How do you feel about the music industry's plans? Have you received a warning from your ISP? Can illegal music sharing ever be stopped? Share your thoughts in the HEXUS.community forums.
