ISPs help target illegal file-sharing

ISPs promise illegal file-sharing crackdown

Six of the UK's largest internet service providers (ISPs) have agreed to crack down on illegal file-sharing.

The ISPs, which include Virgin Media, Sky, Carphone Warehouse, BT, Orange and Tiscali, are to establish a code of practice for dealing with the sharing of copyright material over the internet. The code will be developed in conjunction with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Those users found to be breaking copyright laws will be sent warning letters and could have their internet connections cut.

“Britain’s creative industries have grown quickly in the last 10 years and will play a bigger role in our future,” said Culture, Media and Sport secretary Andy Burnham. “Their success is critically underpinned by workable systems of copyright and that is why the issues we are discussing today go to the heart of our economy.”

The British Video Association said the move would benefit the vast majority of users. “Illegal file-sharers currently consumer very large amounts of bandwidth. This impacts negatively on ISPs' businesses and their law abiding customers who have to cover the costs of the bandwidth hogs,” it noted.