ISP first to shut stable door, search for lost horse

Virgin Media is to be the first major ISP to threaten its customers with suspension of their internet connection if they persist in using illegal filesharing services. The BPI has repeatedly called for the introduction of a "three strike" rule specifically targeting repeat offenders, and has been involved in as-yet fruitless talks with the major ISPs for the past two years. Virgin Media's announcement makes it the first ISP has agreed to co-operate in tracking down, warning, and possibly banning individual customers from their services.

The UK government has told the BPI and the music industry that they must reach a voluntary agreement by April 2009 or face legislation, with a consultation paper on illegal filesharing reportedly to be published this April. "We have been in discussions with rights holders organisations about how a voluntary scheme could work. We are taking this problem seriously and would favour a sensible voluntary solution," said a Virgin spokesperson. A trial of the scheme could apparently begin within months, although it is not known how BPI technicians would be able to isolate individual users without raising privacy issues.

One presumes that Virgin will also qualify their current advertising campaign that explains at length how their superfast fibreoptic cable network is the best choice for those wanting to acquire music and films with "no boring download limits".