Operator compliance on file-sharing is not the sea-change in attitude it seems, says Giles Cottle

摘要

The UK government, music industry and operators have finally agreed on how best to tackle file-sharing, following months of speculation about three strikes, connection-throttling and download taxes. The six largest UK broadband operators last month signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and pledged to pursue file-sharers on their networks. Rights-holders have always been able to identify the IP addresses of copyright-infringers that use peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. Yet many have dynamic IP addresses, which only operators can match to end-user accounts. With operators' help, rights-holders can identify the worst offenders. Those identified as file-sharers will be sent joint letters - described as "informative" by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) - from the operator and rights-holder, warning them that their actions are illegal.