USERS FACE BEING CUT OFF FROM THE INTERNET for downloading films and music illegally
By DUNCAN ROBERTSON - More by this author » Last updated at 08:54am on 12th February 2008



People who illegally download films and music will be cut off from the internet under Government plans to tackle online piracy.

Internet service providers (ISPs) such BT or Virgin Media will be legally required to take action against users who access illegal material.

Under draft proposals to be unveiled next week, users suspected of wrongfully downloading films or music will be first sent a warning email to stop.

For a second infringement they will receive a suspension and termination of their contract if caught a third time.

Broadband companies who fail to enforce the "three-strikes" regime would be prosecuted and suspected customers' details could be made available to the courts.

A similar system already operates in France and the US, and the Government believes it could work successfully in the UK.

The Government has yet to decide if information on offenders should be shared between ISPs.

Six million broadband users are estimated to download files illegally every year in this country in a practice that music and film companies claim is costing billions of pounds in lost revenue annually.

These people commonly use a software programme called a torrent, which allows them to illegally share files with other users on the internet.

The torrent downloads tiny sections of a song or film file from several different sources making it difficult trace.

Any legislation would not be aimed at prosecuting these individuals, but the internet providers who fail to stop their activity.

Britain's four biggest internet providers hope to avoid the legislation by reaching an agreement with the Government to self-regulate.

BT, Tiscali, Orange and Virgin Media have already been in talks with Hollywood studios and distributions companies for six months over a voluntary scheme.

A spokesman for the Internet Service Providers Association said: "Every right-thinking body knows that self-regulation is much the better option in these areas."

But ministers will make an explicit commitment to legislate with the launch next week of a Green Paper on the creative industries, entitled The World's Creative Hub.

The draft paper states: "We will move to legislate to require internet service providers to take action on illegal file-sharing."

A consultation paper setting out the ways to achieve this is promised within months.

If the results are satisfactory, the proposed legislation will be included in a White Paper to be put before Parliament.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "Early drafts of our creative economy programme document were circulated to stakeholders for comment.

"The content and proposals for the strategy have been significantly developed since then and comprehensive plan to bolster the UK's creative industries will be published shortly. We will not comment on the content of the leaked document."

The legislation will not target those who legally download music or films from licensed sites like iTunes or Channel 4's 4oD.

The downloading and sharing of copyrighted material without permission is illegal.

Using this software, a person can download any film or song they want provided it has been publicly released. Pirate software is becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it easier and quicker for it be downloaded.



so you all better stay away from :

limeware
shareaza
bitcomet
utorrent
kceasy
ares
soulseeker
azureus
morpheus
imesh and others
µTorrent - The Lightweight and Efficient BitTorrent Client
Azureus : Java BitTorrent Client
.:: Ares - [Home] the ultimate p2p filesharing software ::.
KCeasy, Open Source Filesharing for Windows
BitComet - A free C++ BitTorrent/HTTP/FTP Download Client
Shareaza - Bringing P2P Together
Lime Wire » Download LimeWire

so avoid Peer-to-peer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


They wont be able to stop people from sharing files only slow things down a bit .
1) *If this does happens then the price for connection should drop .
2) *contracts should be pay as you go or monthly and no 12+ month contracts .
3) *Millions will Not continue to pay over priced connection bills .


and maybe people like GHOSTFACE KILLER ( great name ) will start to make some MORE papers ....

Users face being cut off from the internet for downloading films and music illegally | the Daily Mail

If they do this and I survive the fall out I'm due some props. They've been talking about this for a while.

(Wrote an essay a few years ago on P2P being allowed to be go unhindered to promote MP3's as a separate market to CDs and other music sources which will never die out as MP3's are intangible)

I like this move.......small budget films take the biggest hit from this STEALING.

Funny thing is pirates have no rules......I've seen Black films that are currently in theaters with links to download them on "Black sites".no honor among thieves