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Thu, 24 Jul 2008 UK ISP's reach anti-file-sharing deal

File-sharers must expect stiff penalties as ISPs, music industry reach new deal

Jonny Evans

Six of the UK's biggest internet service providers have reached a deal with music industry body the BPI to combat music-piracy.

The agreement commits the companies working together towards reducing the illegal sharing of music and will see hundreds of thousands of letters sent to net users suspected of illegally sharing music.

The deal - which has been agreed to by BT, Virgin, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse - also means file-sharers could see their broadband connections slowed, or removed altogether.

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI, which represents the music industry, said: "All of the major ISPs in the UK now recognise they have a responsibility to deal with illegal file-sharers on their networks."

“Government has played an important role in bringing all parties together to arrive at this point, but the work really begins now.  We look forward to creating the procedures necessary to effectively tackle repeated unlawful filesharing with the other signatories and Ofcom," he added.

Music industry bodies have been pushing UK government to force ISPs to become the internet's file-sharing policemen for years. Music labels argue that ISPs have effectively benefited from file-sharing, as it has made their services popular.
 
The plan commits the firms to working towards a "significant reduction" in the illegal sharing of music. However, the move also indicates new music services could soon debut to fill the gap.

It's thought that UK music industry bosses are now negotiating a controlled and licensed peer-to-peer scheme in which users pay c.£30 per year as a blanket fee for their music.

"In addition, the music business is constantly innovating to offer new, safe and legal ways to enjoy music online, and to create a future for digital music where creativity and copyright are respected. This (agreement) will help to create an environment in which such new digital services models can flourish," Taylor added. 

The deal also commits the net firms to develop legal music services, however the music industry wants people's internet cut off if they ignore repeated warnings.
 
Martin Warner, new media entrepreneur and co-founder of Technology of Tomorrow 08 said: "Today’s deal is a major breakthrough for consumers and the record industry, though many challenges still remain on how this is going to work out in practice and be policed.”
 
He adds- “The rapid advances in technology have a major impact on how music is consumed. This has presented many opportunities and challenges for artists and record companies but the consensus of opinion is that there is no alternative but to embrace new technology.”
 

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