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May 12, 2009

Virgin helps government tackle illegal file sharers

Channel4 and BSkyB advise Digital Britain board

Carrie-Ann Skinner

Virgin Media has joined forces with Channel 4 and BSkyB in a bid to help the government tackle internet piracy.

Chief executives from the three companies, along with those from record labels and movie distribution firms, are advising communications minister Lord Stephen Carter and the Digital Britain Report Steering Board on the best methods to tackle the problem of illegal file sharers.

It is hoped the group's advice will help Carter set out a strategy in his Digital Britain report, which is due to be published on June 16.

It is thought the group is pushing for the creation of a regulatory body, which will be overseen by Ofcom, to track down and prosecute illegal file sharers, along with legislation that will force ISPs to punish repeat offenders.

The annoucement comes as the UK Film Council along with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and other creative bodies and trade union groups have presented the government with a set of recomendations on how they think internet piracy should be tackled.

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See also: Gov't plans to kill illegal downloads

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Comments received


Matt said on Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Looks like I'll be canceling my Virgin contract, I don't even illegally download, but anybody who sides with 'artists' who live in mansions across the world and drive sports cars and hold excessive parties. I am not going to be associated with them. This is class war now. When did a rock star become a celebrity? Pathetic losers who bend over at the first sight of an industry suit unzipping his pants.

B.Bear said on Tuesday, 12 May 2009

The BPI is the British Phonographic Industry NOT Photographic as stated above?

Pete said on Tuesday, 12 May 2009

I am going to stop my contract with Virgin, too. Their service is atrocious.

Matt Egan - managing editor said on Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Thanks B.Bear. Good spot.

anonymous said on Tuesday, 12 May 2009

i illegalli download for the only reson being i cant afford to be legal my dad work 6 days a week 12 hrs a day on minimun wage hes nearly 50 my dad tells me that when he works for 3hr he get unbearable pain from his back. after hearing him say that do you think i should pay millionair artist 6.50 for somthing i can get fo free not just music movies, software etc . pirecy sites like mininova and piretbay there like the moden equivalent of robin hood because they do steal from the rich and give to the poor. and one more thing there not allowed to track your what your doing on the internet beacuse of your privercy rights

alandric said on Tuesday, 12 May 2009

I don't download because I am lucky enough to be able to afford CDs. I won't be able to if piracy stops though because the price will rocket! --The big multi-nationals will still only pay the artists a pittance though!

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