Internet piracy crackdown announced

Britain's six main internet service providers (ISPs) are getting tough on people who illegally download music.It is understood that the ISPs have agreed to commit themselves to developing legal file-sharing services and to ensure their customers know that it is illegal to share copyright-protected music.Around 6.5 million Britons have got hold of tunes illegally in the 12 months in a practice which could cost the music industry up to £1 billion over the next five years.The fightback against online piracy will begin with letters to thousands of the most prolific downloaders to inform them that their activity has been detected and is being monitored.The Government's departments for business and culture will announce an industry agreement to address unlawful file-sharing, to which BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse have signed up.Fergal Sharkey, the former Undertones singer who is now chief executive of British Music Rights, the body that represents musicians, said: "This is something of a step into the unknown for the internet providers, music industries and ministers."But we can't go on without it - no business can survive after losing as much revenue as the music industry has."

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ITN | July 24, 2008

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