Download a MP3 and the government will cut off your net access!

[Red Moon]

Looks like the nanny state is here to stay.

Users face Net ban in crackdown on piratesPeople who illegally download films and music will be cut off from the internet under new legislative proposals to be unveiled next week.

Internet service providers (ISPs) will be legally required to take action against users who access pirated material, The Times has learnt.

Users suspected of wrongly downloading films or music will receive a warning e-mail for the first offence, a suspension for the second infringement and the termination of their internet contract if caught a third time, under the most likely option to emerge from discussions about the new law.

Broadband companies who fail to enforce the “three-strikes” regime would be prosecuted and suspected customers’ details could be made available to the courts. The Government has yet to decide if information on offenders should be shared between ISPs.

Six million broadband users are estimated to download files illegally every year in this country in a practice that music and film companies claim is costing them billions of pounds in lost revenue annually.

Britain’s four biggest internet providers – BT, Tiscali, Orange and Virgin Media – have been in talks with Hollywood’s biggest studio and distribution companies for six months over a voluntary scheme.

Parallel negotiations between Britain’s music industry and individual internet providers have been dragging on for two years.

Major sticking points include who will arbitrate disputed allegations, for example when customers claim to have been the victim of “wi-fi piggybacking”, in which users link up to a paid-for wireless network that is not their own. Another outstanding disagreement is how many enforcements the internet companies will be expected to initiate and how quickly warning e-mails would be sent.

International action in the US and France, which is implementing its own “three-strikes” regime, has increased the pressure on British internet companies and stiffened the Government’s resolve.

Ministers will make an explicit commitment to legislate with the launch next week of a Green Paper on the creative industries. A draft copy, obtained by The Times, states: “We will move to legislate to require internet service providers to take action on illegal file-sharing.” A consultation paper setting out the options is promised within months.

A spokesman for the Internet Service Providers Association said it remained hopeful that agreement over a voluntary agreement could be reached: “Every right-thinking body knows that self-regulation is much the better option in these areas.”

Roz Groome, vice-president of antipiracy for NBC Universal, welcomed the prospect of new laws. “We welcome the signal from Government that it values the health of the creative industries and takes seriously the damage caused by widespread online copyright infringement. We call upon ISPs to take action now. They must play their part in the fight against online piracy and work with rights owners to ensure that ISPs’ customers do not use their services for illegal activity. Piracy stifles innovation and threatens the long term health of our industry.”

Ed Vaizey, the Shadow Arts Minister, said: “David Cameron called on the internet providers to address this issue last summer. The credibility of the Government’s latest threat is undermined by the fact that ministers have spent so many years dithering on whether to legislate.”

The commitment forms part of a Green Paper on the creative industries entitled The World’s Creative Hub to be launched by Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, and Gordon Brown next week.

Other high-profile elements include a pledge that children will be entitled to five hours of culture a week overseen by a new youth culture trust. The pledge will give children the right to learn a musical instrument, visit art galleries and museums and even make films.

Other pledges include setting up a new international conference modelled on Davos, entitled the World Creative Economy Forum, and supporting a new £200 million film centre at the South Bank in London. A spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “Early drafts of our creative economy programme document were circulated to stakeholders for comment. The content and proposals for the strategy have been significantly developed since then and a comprehensive plan to bolster the UK’s creative industries will be published shortly. We will not comment on the content of the leaked document.”
Source: The Times (http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article3353387.ece)

[Mrluvaluva]

Just heard this on the news. I am screwed at work then. Lol.

[Xander]

Oh well, i will still continue. Most downloading programs will still be fine to use. i got nothin got nothing to worry about

:tongue: to the goverment.

[Captain.Remy]

I will still continue too, Im' nothing without my torrents lol

[Red Moon]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
Just heard this on the news. I am screwed at work then. Lol.

Work might be screwed when they lose there net access..... but then again more work might get done.... LOL

[Redmond]

Just scare tactics, they will never be able to fully clamp down on it. Instead of always trying to stop people downloading music and tv shows/films they should create a proper service where all this stuff is available for a small price, so then for example UK viewers who want to watch US shows or vice versa can watch the shows as they air and not have to wait a year for them to become available on British TV.

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by Red Moon
Work might be screwed when they lose there net access..... but then again more work might get done.... LOL

Never! :joker:

[Matt08]

Originally posted by Xander
Oh well, i will still continue. Most downloading programs will still be fine to use. i got nothin got nothing to worry about

:tongue: to the goverment.

Your ISP will still be able to see if you use a downloading program. So say if you went on Limewire and downloaded a song, then your ISP would be able to see.

[Xander]

Originally posted by Matt08
Originally posted by Xander
Oh well, i will still continue. Most downloading programs will still be fine to use. i got nothin got nothing to worry about

:tongue: to the goverment.

Your ISP will still be able to see if you use a downloading program. So say if you went on Limewire and downloaded a song, then your ISP would be able to see.

True, but if you think of how many people use limewire/utorret you find its a large majority of people and its doubtful that they are going to find everyone.

[Matt08]

Originally posted by Xander
Originally posted by Matt08
Originally posted by Xander
Oh well, i will still continue. Most downloading programs will still be fine to use. i got nothin got nothing to worry about

:tongue: to the goverment.

Your ISP will still be able to see if you use a downloading program. So say if you went on Limewire and downloaded a song, then your ISP would be able to see.

True, but if you think of how many people use limewire/utorret you find its a large majority of people and its doubtful that they are going to find everyone.

Even though they might not catch everyone, you could be one of the ones that they catch out. I'd rather download legally than face court and a large fine.

[Matt10k]

Sh*t!! I'm gutted! I use limewire and other torrents to download stuff all the time. I can totally understand why they are doing it but that doesn't stop it totally sucking :sad:

[Matt08]

One good point is that if they're going to start clamping down on the people that download it, then shouldn't they be closing down these websites that provide illegial downloads?

[Matt10k]

I'm wondering how they will send me a warning email though when my email account that comes with the computer doesn't work? I'd of course keep downloading until I got a warning email otherwise.

[Matt08]

Originally posted by Matt10k
I'm wondering how they will send me a warning email though when my email account that comes with the computer doesn't work? I'd of course keep downloading until I got a warning email otherwise.

They'd probably send you a warning through the post as well.

[Spike]

Originally posted by Matt08
One good point is that if they're going to start clamping down on the people that download it, then shouldn't they be closing down these websites that provide illegial downloads?

Yeah they should be closing down the websites instead of punishing the people who use them. How am i supposed to know the downloads off these websites are illegal :laugh:

[Matt10k]

Right, only one thing for it then... Everyone, if you want something, better get it now while you still can! Got a week :laugh:

[Matt08]

Originally posted by Spike
Originally posted by Matt08
One good point is that if they're going to start clamping down on the people that download it, then shouldn't they be closing down these websites that provide illegial downloads?

Yeah they should be closing down the websites instead of punishing the people who use them. How am i supposed to know the downloads off these websites are illegal :laugh:

Well, most songs/albums/TV Shows/films are copyrighted, so when you go and download them from the net, then you're infringing copyright laws. So any company/organisation who own the copyright to the certian thing could take someone/ a website to court and they could face legal charges for downloading it illegially.

[KKBL]

but they cant close down Limewire theres nothing illeagal about Limewire its just that "some people" are uploading copywrited music/films etc

[Matt08]

Originally posted by *Cathal*
but they cant close down Limewire theres nothing illeagal about Limewire its just that "some people" are uploading copywrited music/films etc

Then Limewire have to take some of the responsibility, as they're not removing the illegial content.

[Sarah.]

Nothing will stop me from downloading Lost. If they want to stop people downloading US shows, then show them on UK TV the same time as the Americans, and not everyone has Sky.

[Matt08]

Originally posted by mrs_rko
Nothing will stop me from downloading Lost. If they want to stop people downloading US shows, then show them on UK TV the same time as the Americans, and not everyone has Sky.

I was reading up on Torrent websites, and apparently there's nothing illegial about them as long as they don't allow users to download copyrighted material.

[Matt10k]

Originally posted by Matt08
Originally posted by mrs_rko
Nothing will stop me from downloading Lost. If they want to stop people downloading US shows, then show them on UK TV the same time as the Americans, and not everyone has Sky.

I was reading up on Torrent websites, and apparently there's nothing illegial about them as long as they don't allow users to download copyrighted material.

Limewire isn't illegal either on it's own. It's the copyrighted material that is illegal and without it both are kind of pointless.

[Callum]

Does it matter if I use Ares? :conf:

[Matt10k]

Originally posted by Callum
Does it matter if I use Ares? :conf:

Haven't heard of it. I use bitlord but if you are using it to download copyrighted files then it won't matter what you are using, unless of course, you have some sneaky way of avoiding detection :wink:

[Stu]

Just sit back , download some torrents , grab some popcorn , and watch this not work.

[\PJ/]

How can they stop everybody?

[Matt10k]

Originally posted by Morpheus
Just sit back , download some torrents , grab some popcorn , and watch this not work.

I really hope that's true.

[Red Moon]

Personally I think they are targeting in the wrong people. Yes it's wrong to download but it is also wrong to copy the stuff to start with.

It is the people that put the stuff on the servers that start the chain of copyright infringement so they are people they need to go for. After all if these people didn't put the stuff out there people wouldn't be able to download it in the first place.

It is another example of the nanny police state we live in. The sooner this bunch of idiots are voted out of power the better. They are a bunch of incompetent fools who couldn't run a piss up in a brewery let alone a country.

[XxShortyxX]

The movies I watch I don't have to download, however I download music, and will conitune to do so as the type of music I download you can't buy in shops.

And they can kiss it :bigsmile:

[Stu]

Its just going to be one of those laws that no matter how enforced , will still go uncared for. Its a civil liberty thing. People still smoke pot , people still copy DVD's , people still do all these minor offences but nobody gives a crap at the end of the day. These companies are still raking in a huge amount of money , so its a victimless crime really.

Hollywood should just concentrate all its might into using defensive methods against torrenting and the like. Pit people who download torrents against people trying to stop them. No laws made , no laws broken.

[Matt10k]

But if it becomes law and ISP's can be prosecuted, they will have to clamp down on it or risk being shut down themselves. It's bad news.

[Matt10k]

The good news is that the article says ‘legislative proposals to be unveiled next week'. It isn't even a Green Paper, let alone a White Paper, so the chances of it being law anytime soon are small when you consider the Parliamentary process of introducing and passing a Bill. Bad news is, it is a stepping stone towards the police state Red Moon mentioned.

[Stu]

Originally posted by Matt10k
But if it becomes law and ISP's can be prosecuted, they will have to clamp down on it or risk being shut down themselves. It's bad news.
Most computer users into that sort of stuff are a crafty bunch though. They always manage to stay one step ahead of everything.

This Nanny Sate thing bothers me too. People lead themselves into a corner , sit down , and assume they are powerless to stop it. The government cant trample on peoples civil liberties like that. Cliche , but its a free country isint it? Stand up and say something!

Think of all the laws that , if put to a public poll once and for all , would be overturned. Instead the real battle is between the government and themselves!

Not only are they running the country for us , but they are trying to run our lives for us!

More like another cliche - ''You have the right to do what we tell you''.

[Captain.Remy]

I think they should legalise it, they can't do anything big in order to stop it. And will the iPods and stuff like that, they "force" us in a way to download. So they don't know exactly what they want.

[Matt08]

Originally posted by Captain.Remy
I think they should legalise it, they can't do anything big in order to stop it. And will the iPods and stuff like that, they "force" us in a way to download. So they don't know exactly what they want.

Is there any similar laws in France to do with downloading copyrighted material?

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : Matt08
Originally posted by Captain.Remy
I think they should legalise it, they can't do anything big in order to stop it. And will the iPods and stuff like that, they "force" us in a way to download. So they don't know exactly what they want.

Is there any similar laws in France to do with downloading copyrighted material?

Yeah but not ones about cutting off your net access...not yet anyway lol
Actually, a new kind of Police has been created by the Government which works all day long in order to stop downloading. They don't punish the ones who download but the ones who give the files like Mininova or Demonoid....

[Matt]

I have to laugh at this government.

All the trouble and strife in the world - 25 million people's personal details lost, escalating crime levels, even environmental issues - and what do they come out with?

"Lets stop illegal downloads!"

The sooner the Conservatives get into power the better...

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : Matt
I have to laugh at this government.

All the trouble and strife in the world - 25 million people's personal details lost, escalating crime levels, even environmental issues - and what do they come out with?

"Lets stop illegal downloads!"

The sooner the Conservatives get into power the better...

Yeah from what I read about yours, it's not that nice, ours too by the way lol. I just think it's the decade when silly things happen lol

[Matt10k]

Originally posted by Matt
I have to laugh at this government.

All the trouble and strife in the world - 25 million people's personal details lost, escalating crime levels, even environmental issues - and what do they come out with?

"Lets stop illegal downloads!"

The sooner the Conservatives get into power the better...


What makes you think they'd be any better?

[Captain.Remy]

Message original : Matt
Originally posted by Matt10k
Originally posted by Matt
I have to laugh at this government.

All the trouble and strife in the world - 25 million people's personal details lost, escalating crime levels, even environmental issues - and what do they come out with?

"Lets stop illegal downloads!"

The sooner the Conservatives get into power the better...


What makes you think they'd be any better?

Anyone's better than Labour, and I fully back any party that would be prepared to give us a referendum on the EU consitution :laugh:

Ours hadn't done it and they didn't shout it. The President accepted it and because of this, he reached his highest point of impopularity (39% of popularity)

[Matt10k]

Anyone's better than labour? do you not remember how bad the conservatives were? Why labour won such a landslide in the first place.

[xDramatick]

I use torrents/utorrent =|

Seriously.
a lot of my music is american, canadian, or japanese.
and you can't buy most of it in the UK =/

[Wasted]

LOL people are still going to do it anyway.

I usually buy music anyway, I just like to download it first before deciding if it's worth buying or not. And then in other cases you can't buy some of the music over here.

[Tom4784]

This law won't be passed, schemes like this are unveiled almost all the time and they rarely become law.

I agree with what Matt said, there are more pressing matters to be dealt with at the moment, the government shouldn't be worried about illegal downloads.

[Red Moon]

Originally posted by Dezzy
I agree with what Matt said, there are more pressing matters to be dealt with at the moment, the government shouldn't be worried about illegal downloads.

Problem is they don't know how to deal with the pressing matters so targeting teenagers downloading MP3 makes it seem like they are doing something.

It's stupid if they you ask me. Go for the people uploading the stuff. They were the people who ripped the music in the first place.

[Stu]

Originally posted by Matt
I have to laugh at this government.

All the trouble and strife in the world - 25 million people's personal details lost, escalating crime levels, even environmental issues - and what do they come out with?

"Lets stop illegal downloads!"

The sooner the Conservatives get into power the better...
What difference will that make? If anything the conservatives will be just as bad with it , if not worse.

I agree with the rest of your post though.

[philmyer92]

What I find funny is the government are willing to spend more time and money on making sure massive music and film companies get like an extra 2% more money. Rather than things like education/health/helping smaller struggling companies.

[Tom]

The first step is to tackle companies such as those behind the Gnutella network (Limewire, Bearshare etc) and torrent websites. Cutting off the internet will not make things better. There are a million and one things that can go wrong such as people hacking into your wireless connection and actually determining what you are downloading and where from. There will be ways around this e.g. by using proxies and if anything it will make the problem worse. It then also goes for websites like youtube because someone could use a program to record audio from their PC whilst watching a song on youtube which is essentially piracy because thats a modern day version of taping off the radio.

[Jack]

This thing will only happen to those who download/upload huge amounts of files. The average user (ie, most people on here) wouldn't be detected. Napster targeted people a few years back, it was only those who had downloaded/uploaded huge amounts, I'm talking hundred of Gigabytes per week.

There is also something being put foward with regard to people copying CDs on to their computers, even for their own use, they want to make that illegal too. What is the state coming to. :bored:

[CassetteFinger]

So basically..... everyone's net is gonna be cut off :laugh2: