BPI vs ISPs Standoff Hots Up

In a snub to the record label industry, Tiscalli, the major internet service provider for UK has rejected the demand from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) to shut down many of its accounts on grounds of illicit file sharing on the internet. The BPI had earlier identified the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of 59 accounts and demanded that Tiscalli and Cable & Wireless disconnect services to these accounts. Tiscalli had earlier withdrawn its legalized peer-to-peer music streaming service, Jukebox because the European recording industry was not being very co- operative. Now, in a turnaround the ISP has refused to bow down to the BPI’s demand stating that the association has not provided any actual evidence of downloading taking place nor has it provided evidence that the shared drive was connected by the relevant IP address at the relevant time. Although the BPI has managed to obtain screen shots, dates and time as evidence, the ISP is now trying to put the BPI in a spot by saying its illegal, under the Computer Misuse Act to peek into personal computers without permission of the users. However, the music industry coalition has now proposed a reform of UK copyright laws which, according to their press release, would see “Internet Service Providers (ISPs), mobile phone companies and device manufacturers” paying a levy or licence fee to the music industry for any illegal file sharing that their services or products enable. Now this trump card called ‘Value recognition Act’ may just work in their favour, but if approved, will eventually come down hard on customers.