Virgin confirms plans to act on file sharing

Posted on 31 Mar 2008 at 15:17

Virgin Media has confirmed a Sunday Telegraph report that it is working with the UK music industry on measures to prevent p2p sharing of music files.

Virgin and the BPI, UK music's main trade body, are collaborating on a pilot scheme in which the BPI will identify p2p activity and pass the respective IP addresses onto Virgin which will then contact the individuals alleged to be illegally sharing copyright material.

"We have been in discussions with rights holders organisations about how a voluntary scheme could work," a Virgin spokesman said. "We are taking this problem seriously and would favour a sensible voluntary solution."

He added that Virgin internet subscribers will be informed when a trial begins, but could not say when that might be.

The UK government recently told ISPs that it will introduce legislation next year, unless they reach a voluntary agreement with the BPI on measures to tackle file sharing.

The government's warning came days after it emerged that Tiscali had pulled out of an agreement with the BPI after failing to reach an agreement on who should cover the costs of anti-sharing action. The issue of costs is thought to be the major barrier to an industry-wide agreement between ISPs and the BPI, with both sides insisting the other should bear most of the burden.

But there appears to be little debate over the reliability of methods employed to track file sharers and little discussion about ensuring that internet users have adequate means of appealing any allegations of illegal activity.

The BPI has little time for such niceties.

"This is not the time for ISPs to delay further," said chief executive Geoff Taylor. "Government clearly shares the creative community's frustration at the failure of ISPs to take action."

Author: Simon Aughton

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