There really is only one way to stop people from downloading music illegally, and that is to offer an alternative that can compete with file-sharing networks. Today, Virgin announced a deal where the ISP will offer its customers unlimited access to Universal’s music library for approximately 10-15 pounds a month. Whether this is a good enough deal to get people off their old file-sharing habit still has to be seen.
Anticipating on the possibility that not all customers will be interested in the monthly subscription service, the deal between Virgin and Universal also includes an anti-piracy section. That is, Virgin have pledged to go after their customers who share files illegally on BitTorrent and other file-sharing networks.
How exactly Virgin will prevent or discourage illegal file-sharing is unclear but the ISP itself will not spy on the download behavior of its customers or intercept traffic. Instead, they plan to warn those who download copyrighted content, based on evidence provided by third party tracking companies. Those who receive multiple warnings will experience a suspension in their Internet connection, lasting from “a few minutes to a few hours.”
Interestingly, less than a year ago Virgin publicly said that it would never disconnect alleged file-sharers, after they mistakenly threatened some of their customers with such a measure. There is “absolutely no possibility” of being disconnected, the company said at the time. Clearly they’ve had a change of heart.
In addition to this temporary disconnection, repeat infringers might face speed bumps or humps, meaning that their Internet speed could be decreased significantly, a measure that probably wont be very effective as a deterrent. The music industry is nevertheless happy with the deal and hope that many ISPs will follow Virgin’s lead.
torrentfreakGreat so now innocent people will get disconnected because they're accused of committing piracy by unreliable third party tracking companies hired by the cartels to do their dirty work.
