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July 3, 2008

800 Virgin Media file-sharers sent legal threat letters

ISP claims legal action threat was a "mistake"

Carrie-Ann Skinner

800 Virgin Media customers have received letters warning them about participating in illegal file sharing.

The letters are part of a 10-week campaign, in conjunction with music industry body the BPI, in a bid to 'educate users' about illegal downloading.

The BPI has been urging ISPs to implement a 'three strikes and you're out' rule for illegal downloaders which would see offenders first issued with written warnings. If they continue to illegally file share, offenders will then see their internet access terminated. However, Virgin Media is the only ISP so far to start implementing the policy. Although it highlighted that the letters represent an education-only campaign and that as of yet no-one has been disconnected from the internet.

"This is about education. We make no assumptions about who is at fault. It may be someone in the family or someone illegally using their Wi-Fi connection," said a Virgin Media spokesman.

However, a number of customers who have received letters have complained that the letters have been strongly worded, threatening possible legal action. Virgin Media said that wording was a "mistake".

The government has given ISPs until next spring to stop illegal file sharers themselves, otherwise legislation will be brought in that forces them to punish offenders.

Some ISPs including the Carphone Warehouse, however, have refused to participate and have been threated with legal action by the BPI.

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Comments received

James said on Thursday, 03 July 2008

I think that if virgin follow this through they will lose a lot of customers which they cant afford. I know of at least 25 people that have closed there accounts with virgin because of this news and have gone on to other services. Like they have said if someone is using your bandwidth without you knowing you still get the blame and could get cut off.

If i receive a letter from virgin i would stright away close my account with them and open with someone else.. We can live without virgin there not the only ISP in the country..

PaulGreyhead said on Thursday, 03 July 2008

If you don't download illegal files you have nothing to worry about.
People are complaining about this, but would you walk into a record store and steal music? No, so why do it on a computer? Just because it's easy doesn't mean it's ok.

tony d said on Thursday, 24 July 2008

people still make a big thing over this, its not like its new, people used to copy records (vynyl) and cassettes onto cassettes. previous to that they recorded radio programmes onto cassettes it seems now the music is digital (not analog) it seems a big thing. give someone the technology
and they will use it. buy a ferrari and dont speed

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