Internet firms in piracy crackdown

Britain's six biggest internet service providers (ISPs) have signed up to a government-backed drive to clamp down on illegal downloading of music and films, it has been revealed.

It is thought that around 6.5 million Britons have downloaded files illegally over the past year and estimates suggest that the practice will cost the music industry up to £1 billion over the next five years.

The fightback against online piracy will begin with letters to thousands of the most prolific downloaders to inform them that their activity has been detected and is being monitored.

The Government's departments for business and culture are announcing an industry agreement to address unlawful file-sharing, to which the big six ISPs - BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse - have signed up.

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 is thought likely that many parents will learn for the first time from the letters that their children are using their bedroom PCs and laptops for illegal piracy.

The Times reports 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 that represents musicians, told the Times: "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 expected to develop a new code of practice together on how they will deal with infringements, and the Government will then look at their proposals and consider how they can be backed up by new laws.

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