Virgin Accidentally Threatens to Disconnect File Sharers

This week Virgin Media has created a storm by sending out letters to 800 of its broadband customers warning them to stop sharing illegal music files, and accidentally printing a warning about possible disconnection on the envelope.

Apparently it's all part of an 'education' scheme run in conjunction with the BPI (formerly known as the British Phonographic Industries). The letters contain details of tracks downloaded, timestamps and the protocol used.

This week Virgin Media has created a storm by sending out letters to 800 of its broadband customers warning them to stop sharing illegal music files, and accidentally printing a warning about possible disconnection on the envelope.

Apparently it's all part of an 'education' scheme run in conjunction with the BPI (formerly known as the British Phonographic Industries). The letters contain details of tracks downloaded, timestamps and the protocol used.

All this comes in the same week that the BPI itself put out a press release claiming that over 11% of music company revenues now come from outside physical and digital music sales, from sources such as merchandising, licensing and other 'artist services'.

And despite all the doom-mongering that the internet is killing CD sales, it says that 95% of album sales are still in the CD format. It also admits that CD album sales are now higher than they were a decade ago.

We certainly don't condone breaching copyright, but tactics such as these are reminiscent of the 'Home taping is killing music!' campaigns (complete with skull and crossbones logo) found on record liners many decades ago. The fact is that the majority of people don't like doing illegal things, and scare tactics can backfire by tempting them to move to an ISP that doesn't want to participate in such 'education' schemes.

Source: Kelvyn Taylor Editor, Personal Computer World http://www.pcw.co.uk