Intellectual Property Law

BBC news has today reported that six of the UK's largest Internet Service Providers ("ISPs") including BT, Virgin and Orange have agreed a strategy with the music industry to significantly curb on-line music piracy.

The ISPs in question have signed a memorandum of understanding drawn up by the government. The memorandum obliges ISPs to educate their customers so that no customer is oblivious to or simply avoids the fact that it is illegal to share copyrighted music without a valid defence. Internet pirates in the UK have turned a blind eye to this fact since ever since the advent of the internet and have carried out infringing activities without the fear of being caught. A position which is contrary to that in the USA, where the thousands of claims made against alleged music sharers have had the effect of deterring would-be pirates.

In February this year The Times  reported that an estimated six million broadband users were downloading files illegally every year in the UK. An activity that cost music and film companies billions of pounds in lost revenue annually. The memorandum is, at the very least, a start of a long process which will hopefully see the number of illegal downloads decrease and in-turn reassure and safeguard the integrity of the UK's creative industries. Already, Virgin and BT have sent letters to persistent music pirates flagged by the BPI, (the trade association for the UK record industry). Thousands more letters will be sent in the coming weeks and months to pirates.

The BBC announcement comes at a time when the government is also expected to consult with the music industry and other relevant bodies in an effort to oblige all ISPs to tackle music piracy.