UK internet service providers (ISPs) such as BT, Virgin Media and Sky Broadband are to closely monitor customer activity and to issue cautionary letters to those found to be illegally sharing pirated content on the internet, according to reports.
The move comes as part of a crack down on online copyright infringement in collaboration with Creative Content UK, which will see customers who illegally share protected content have their IP addresses flagged by contents rights holders.
Once rights holders are able to confirm that copyright infringement has taken place, ISPs will issue customers with ‘cautionary’ letters, warning them that their activity has been monitored and ‘educating’ them on online copyright law by highlighting ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ methods of accessing protected content.
The initiative has received backing from media giants such as the BBC, ITV and the Film Distributors’ Association.
Reports suggest that no customer details will be shared with rights holders or third parties – and that the first ‘cautionary letters’ are to be sent out to consumers before the end of the month.
A Virgin Media spokesperson said that the initiative “aims to raise consumer awareness of the wide array of legitimate online content services and to help reduce online copyright infringement”.
They confirmed: “Virgin Media and other ISPs will soon begin sending educational emails to customers who are associated with illegal file-sharing and direct to them to a dedicated website with a list of genuine sources of where they, and others who use their account, can legally access movies, music, TV shows, books, newspapers, games and sports”.