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Internet Provider Send 'Warning' Letters To Illegal Downloaders

With BPI backing...

Internet Provider Send 'Warning' Letters To Illegal Downloaders

Internet provider Virgin Media has sent hundreds of letters telling its customers that downloading music illegally will not be tolerated.

The company has sent 800 letters in conjunction with the BPI, who said that the 10-week scheme had been devised to “educate” people.

The initiative is part of a new drive to prevent internet users from downloading music from file-sharing websites.

The BPI, who regulate the British music industry, is trying to implement a three strikes and your out policy, which will see repeat offenders disconnected from their internet service provider.

To date, Virgin Media are the only company who have signed up to the scheme.

Speaking to the BBC, BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor said that the organisation was prepared to back up its education of customers with legal action against ISPs.

A number of internet providers, including Carphone Warehouse, have refused to sign up the the three strikes policy because they feel it infringes their customers privacy.

Virgin Media have since admitted that the wording in the letter, which threatens customers with disconnection, was a mistake. They are expected to review the corrsespondence in August.

Have you received a letter? What do you think about the three strikes policy? Let Gigwise know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
(4)
  • So Virgin Media are collaborating with big companies to mete out the kind of punishment only courts should be able to? It’s virtually impossible to come up with any solid evidence that you were actually downloading copyright material without breaking the law themselves. Even if I did download a file, how can they tell I don’’t own the copyright to it? How do they know it’’s a copy of an original work and not a copy of a copy? How can they

    ~ by Doyouthinkhesawus 7/3/2008

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  • the fact is that internet gives u anything.. but it was, is and always be the most free community in the world.If they want to stop pirate music etc. they sould take the fish from the head not from the tale..

    ~ by sdevil 7/4/2008

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  • OK virgin media are doing it as they are pretty much the sole providor of cable broadband in the UK so they can sorta get away with it but if the ADSL isp,s try then they will be seriously shafting themselves here.Most people who would get a warning letter would quickly change to one the hundreds of other ISP,s who arent as intrusive.

    ~ by Captain Shab 7/4/2008

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  • record companies charge to much and theyre clinging onto their own greed i hope they all go down we dont need them anymore anyway

    ~ by anonymous 7/30/2008

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