The government is proposing to introduce a “3 strikes & you’re out” policy amongst ISPs to target illegal downloading of music from the internet. Backed by the record companies it is thought that the policy in this government green paper will make the ISPs comply with their rules, or risk reprisals from the authorities. The 3 strikes will result in: 1) You will receive an email detailing that you have been found to be illegally downloading music, and you should stop. 2) Temporary suspension of your internet access account. 3) Your account will be terminated.

The green paper has been drawn up due to the lack of co-operation between the record industry and ISPs to put a stop to illegal file sharing. Why are the ISPs reluctant to strike a voluntary deal? Because they know that their customers will vote with their feet. The BPI have recently commented on this green paper & the proposed policy - a quote states in the press release that “For years, ISPs have built a business on other people’s music.” This quote alone will make the ISPs even more reluctant to partner with the BPI.

Of course, it does make you wonder how the whole problem of people sharing unsecured wifi will be dealt with, and how the traffic can be monitored correctly. If you are just looking at types of traffic and not the ports, then you could argue that bit torrents can be used for legal means. Whereas if you’re looking at just ports, the ports can easily be changed in any bit torrent program. However, if you’re looking at the physical connections to IP addresses, or even hosting your own governmental “honey trap” server for unknowing file sharers, most people will find a way around it and download something like Peer Guardian. If the green paper is approved in principle then I will be very interested to report on how this will actually work - when drafts are drawn up for the ISPs. Of course, whether you agree with the proposal or not, the idea makes sense and can be argued either way for whose benefit it really is for. The artist or the record industries? - you decide. And if it is successful, will it stop people sharing music or just drive it underground again? Everyone has a USB stick nowadays… [SHOW ME]