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UK Internet piracy deal will target parents
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-24 17:15 LONDON -- The parents of thousands of British teenagers illegally downloading music and films will be sent warning letters under a deal struck between Internet providers and the entertainment industry.
Many parents are unaware of -- or turn a blind eye to -- their children's illegal downloading of music or television programmes from file-sharing sites across the Internet. Around 6.5 million Britons are thought to have downloaded music illegally last year, with the music industry estimated to face losses of 1 billion pounds in revenue over the next five years. The letters will be sent over three months in a trial period by Britain's six largest ISPs -- BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse. If the voluntary measure fails to reduce illegal downloading, the government will consider raising a levy of up to 30 pounds on each Internet connection to compensate music and film companies, the Independent reported. Possible sanctions for persistent offenders could include a "three-times-and-you're-out" threat to switch off their Internet connection for a year. Feargal Sharkey, the former Undertones lead singer and now the head of musicians' body British Music Rights (BMR), said it was a "groundbreaking" deal. |
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