Net Set To Tighten On Downloaders

[Samurai]

Britain's six biggest internet service providers are clamping down on people illegally downloading music and films.

The ground-breaking fightback against online piracy will begin with service providers sending letters to thousands of the most prolific downloaders, telling them their activity has been detected and is being monitored.

It is thought that around 6.5 million Britons have downloaded files illegally over the past year.

Estimates suggest that the practice will cost the music industry up to £1bn over the next five years.

But the six biggest internet service providers - BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse - have signed up to a government drive addressing unlawful file-sharing.

It is understood that the ISPs have agreed to commit themselves to developing legal file-sharing services and to ensure their customers know that it is illegal to share copyright-protected music.

It has been reported that people who are downloading illegally and ignore warnings could be subject to online surveillance and have their internet speeds reduced - making it very difficult for them to download large files.

Fergal Sharkey, the former Undertones singer who is now chief executive of British Music Rights, the body which represents musicians, said: "This is something of a step into the unknown for the internet providers, music industries and ministers.

"But we can't go on without it - no business can survive after losing as much revenue as the music industry has."

ISPs and film and music companies are also expected to develop a new code of practice together on how they will deal with infringements - which could be backed up by new laws.

Source: Sky News