UK brokers piracy deal with internet providers
LEIGH PHILLIPS
24.07.2008 @ 17:36 CET
The UK government has brokered a deal between the music industry and internet service providers that will see internet service providers (ISPs) for the first time begin to shoulder the burden of tackling illegally shared online music.
Under the deal between the six largest ISPs in the country - BSkyB, BT, Carphone Warehouse, Orange, Tiscali and Virgin - and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the internet firms will send hundreds of thousands of letters via the post to households of people believed to be downloading or uploading copyrighted works.
Illegal music downloaders are to receive warning letters in the post (Photo: Johannes Jansson//norden.org)
Under the auspices of Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, the signatories will work together to identify measures to deal with repeat offenders. Repeat offenders may have the broadband connections slowed down.
Up to now, ISPs have resisted moves to bear any responsibility for users who engage in illegal downloading using the service they provide.
But under a memorandum of understanding negotiated by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the ISPS, the providers have committed towards achieving a "significant reduction" in illegal file-sharing over their networks.
The UK is one of Europe's biggest music markets and the move may set the tone for similar reforms on the mainland.
The Motion Picture Association of America has also signed onto the MoU.
Under the plan, ISPs are also obliged to develop their own legal online music services and education programmes teaching consumers that sharing copyright material without the permission of the owner is illegal.
Simultaneously, the government has launched a public consultation that may lay the groundwork for the development of laws that require all internet service providers to work to reduce music, film, television and software piracy.