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04 April 2008 ISPs deny responsibility for online piracy Rob Stringer The head of Talk Talk, one of Britain’s most prominent internet service providers, has rejected demands from the music industry that it ‘police’ the growing number of illegal file-sharers.Charles Dunstone has criticised the BPI over their plans for illegal file-sharers to be cut off from their broadband provider, stating that it is not his job to act as an ‘internet policeman’. The scheme would entail two warnings to online pirates, followed by disconnection for a third offence. The rising popularity of swapping music for free has resulted in long-term anxieties for the future of the music industry. Dunstone accused the BPI of a ‘failure to adapt to changes to technology’ and denounces their plans for clamping-down as ‘unreasonable and unworkable’, claiming that Talk Talk would do their utmost to protect their customers’ rights, and would not consider disconnection on the basis of a third-person allegation. The BPI have responded that they do not wish to enforce such responsibility onto Talk Talk, and deny threats of legal action, but instead seek a ‘progressive partnership’, asserting that it is in an ISP’s best interest to ‘educate’ users in online behaviour. The government, however, are set to introduce legislation next
year against ISPs who do not voluntarily commit to eradicating online
piracy.
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