Will “Three Strikes” Change The Face Of British Filesharing?

British Industry watchdog Ofcom have got their wish. The law has been passed which now requires ISPs to keep track of alleged incidents of copyright theft and infringement. Users who are placed on a list by the ISPs detailing filesharing related infringements will receive a letter. If three such letters are sent within a 12 month period, the user may be in a position where his details can be made available as part of a court ruling. This will enable copyright holders to go after the very people who they consider are in breach of their rights.

The situation that ISPs now find themselves in with regards to persistent filesharers is a difficult one. It is actually a situation that is currently being battled in the Swedish courts after one ISP decided it actually took its data protection promises to customers seriously. It lost the court battle but intends to appeal against the decision. Good luck to them, we say.

These are going to be interesting times for UK filesharers. We have no doubt that this will affect only the most casual of filesharers, with others finding ways around the law very quickly.

Will “Three Strikes” Change The Face Of British Filesharing?

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