News
Virgin targets file sharers
Ben Parfitt Jun 9 2008, 11:03am
Comments (4)
Broadband provider teams up with BPI to identify users sharing music online
Virgin Media has yet again risked the wrath of web-browsing file-sharers by teaming up with the UK music industry’s regulatory body to target those illegally sharing music online.
TechRadar reports that Virgin is to use information provided by the BPI to identify accounts showing file-sharing activity, adding that it will not be providing customer names or address to the music body.
“Customers whose accounts appear to have been used to distribute music in breach of copyright will receive informative letters, one from Virgin Media and one from the BPI,” Virgin Media stated.
“Accounts will be identified by Virgin Media on the basis of information supplied by the BPI.
Both letters will be distributed by Virgin Media, without the need to disclose customer names and addresses to the BPI.”
BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor added: "Education is absolutely key to reducing the extent of illegal downloading. This joint campaign with Virgin Media is the first step towards achieving that goal."
Virgin Media has a pro-active history in regard to taking action of file-sharers, as well as saying that it sees no problem with things such as traffic shaping and attacking principles of internet neutrality.
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Comments
“How will BPI know”
Posted by: Darren - Jun 9, 5:42pm
How will the BPI know what is downloaded? Not everything downloaded via File Sharing is illegal? What happens if people get letters saying they have downloaded illegal music when they haven't? How will Virgin or BPI prove they have?
“Re: How will BPI know”
Posted by: Mike - Jun 12, 6:48am
The BPI (or agents) will determine what you downloading by running P2P clients (such as BitToorrent), download music and look at the list of connected internet addresses. If they are downloading copyrighted music then all connected clients must be as well (but they will have permission to do so).
“Re: Re: How will BPI know”
Posted: Jun 14, 9:10am
I wonder how many VM customers will jump ship after recieving a letter. Why dont they start with catching all the perverts out there first not some mp3 snatchers.
“Re: Re: Re: How will BPI know”
Posted by: PsiG - Jun 19, 10:29am
money...
Why don't record labels take advantage of the millions of users that download 'illegal' files by seeding their own legal downloads with decent quality content laced with adverts. After all who minds being subjected to a few ads in return for free goods.
This should recover some costs and the rest can be saved from the cash they no longer have to waste trying to prevent illegal downloading.