The UK government are considering plans to cut off internet access for people that illegally download music and films.Broadband providers that failed to enforce the rules could be prosecuted and forced to provide the details of the downloaders to the courts.
Six of the UK largest ISPs are set to announce that they've signed up to a government-backed initiative that's designed to clamp down on music privacy.The broadband suppliers, believed to be BT, Virgin, Carphone Warehouse, Orange, Tiscali and Sky- are expected to reveal details of a memorandum understanding they've signed with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) that will result in the ISPs sending warning letters to those suspected of illegally downloading tracks.
The BPI, which represents the UK music industry has been pushing ISPs to step up efforts to tackle illegal downloads for many years. Music labels claim that free downloads from peer-to-peer services heavily impact sales and want those responsible to be penalised.
However, ISPs have been historically protective of their customers when it comes to relinquishing subscriber details to third parties. Therefore, one idea that's been suggested is that ISPs implement a "Three strikes and you're out rule" under which offenders would first be issued with written warnings. Then if they continued to illegally download tracks, offenders could have their internet access terminated.
Virgin Media has been in the forefront of the move to clamp down on illegal downloads. As much as eight hundreds Virgin Media customers received letters warning them about participating in illegal file sharing at the start of the company 10-week campaign to 'educate users' about the danger of file-sharing.
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