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Net firms in music pirates deal Net firms in music pirates deal
(20 minutes later)
Six of the UK's biggest net providers have agreed a plan with the music industry to tackle piracy online.Six of the UK's biggest net providers have agreed a plan with the music industry to tackle piracy online.
The deal, negotiated by the government, will see hundreds of thousands of letters sent to net users suspected of illegally sharing music.The deal, negotiated by the government, will see hundreds of thousands of letters sent to net users suspected of illegally sharing music.
But the music industry wants people's internet cut off if they ignore repeated warnings, something the web firms say they are not prepared to do.But the music industry wants people's internet cut off if they ignore repeated warnings, something the web firms say they are not prepared to do.
The six firms are due to be named when the deal is officially confirmed later.The six firms are due to be named when the deal is officially confirmed later.
The plan commits the firms to working towards a "significant reduction" in the illegal sharing of music.The plan commits the firms to working towards a "significant reduction" in the illegal sharing of music.
It also commits the net firms to develop legal music services, the BBC has been told.It also commits the net firms to develop legal music services, the BBC has been told.
Letters to piratesLetters to pirates
The six firms, which will be named early on Thursday, are understood to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding drawn up by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR). The six firms are understood to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding drawn up by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR).
The BBC has been told that the firms have agreed to ensure their customers know it is illegal to share copyrighted music.The BBC has been told that the firms have agreed to ensure their customers know it is illegal to share copyrighted music.
It is believed that the memorandum also requires net firms to go further in their attempts to tackle illegal file-sharing.It is believed that the memorandum also requires net firms to go further in their attempts to tackle illegal file-sharing.
At the same time the government is also expected to start a consultation exercise that could result in laws that force net firms to tackle music piracy.At the same time the government is also expected to start a consultation exercise that could result in laws that force net firms to tackle music piracy.
HAVE YOUR SAYI think it is totally pointless, it's a waste of money and a waste of timeRich, WalesSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYI think it is totally pointless, it's a waste of money and a waste of timeRich, WalesSend us your comments
In the past few weeks net firms Virgin and BT have sent letters to some customers identified by the BPI, which represents the UK record industry, as persistent music pirates.In the past few weeks net firms Virgin and BT have sent letters to some customers identified by the BPI, which represents the UK record industry, as persistent music pirates.
Before now the BPI has called for a "three-strikes" system which would see net connections of persistent pirates terminated if three warnings went ignored.Before now the BPI has called for a "three-strikes" system which would see net connections of persistent pirates terminated if three warnings went ignored.
Many net firms have resisted the call from the BPI and have said it was not their job to act as policemen.Many net firms have resisted the call from the BPI and have said it was not their job to act as policemen.