UK file-sharers to be 'cut off'

[edesignuk]

The UK government has published new measures that could see people who illegally download films and music cut off from the net.

The amendment to the Digital Britain report would see regulator Ofcom given greater powers to tackle pirates.

The technical measures are likely to include suspending the net accounts of "hardcore copyright pirates".

It is believed that Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has intervened personally to beef up the policy.

The Digital Britain report, published in June, gave Ofcom until 2012 to consider whether technical measures to catch pirates were necessary.

However, according to a statement from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills released on Tuesday, that timeframe is now considered "too long to wait".

Stephen Timms, minister for Digital Britain, explained the change of heart.

"We've been listening carefully to responses to the consultation this far, and it's become clear there are widespread concerns that the plans as they stand could delay action, impacting unfairly upon rights holders," he said.

ISPs have repeatedly argued that it is not their job to police the web.

There is likely to be widespread anger over the tougher stance being adopted by the government. BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8219652.stm).

Bloody Mandelson, isn't it about time he got himself fired again?

[iPhone 62S]

I still don't see how they will work out who are pirates, apart from the pathetic method of looking at IPs in torrent swarms, which has been proven time and time again to not work at all as it frequently finds the wrong people.

All this sort of stuff will do is encourage people to use VPN, proxies and sites such as Furk.

When will they get the message that you cannot stop piracy? At least not like this, anyway.

[iBlue]

I do wonder when one day the gov will start to focus on frying the bigger fish, after shooting them in a barrel, that is. :rolleyes:

[arkitect]

"Ooooooh, hark at her…"
So, Mandy, define "hardcore copyright pirates".

Why doesn't he just ****** off permanently to Corfu and go sponge off his billionaire friends, twat.

I do wonder when one day the gov will start to focus on frying the bigger fish, after shooting them in a barrel, that is. :rolleyes:
Agreed. Easy targets like "forennahs" and "pirates" are all fair game for Labour.

[Schtumple]

"Ooooooh, hark at her…"
So, Mandy, define "hardcore copyright pirates".

Why doesn't he just ****** off permanently to Corfu and go sponge off his billionaire friends, twat.

Hahaha, christ, that made me laugh.

But yeah, in all seriousness, nothing good will come of this...

[remmy]

Really wish he would piss off permanently this time.


http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article6797844.ece

[Abstract]

All this sort of stuff will do is encourage people to use VPN, proxies and sites such as Furk.

When will they get the message that you cannot stop piracy? At least not like this, anyway.

They don't need to stop it completely in order for it to be effective. If it stops half the downloading population from piracy, it will be considered quite a major success.

[iPhone 62S]

They don't need to stop it completely in order for it to be effective. If it stops half the downloading population from piracy, it will be considered quite a major success.

But it won't! It won't stop hardly anyone from pirating anything, like I said it will just encourage people to cover their tracks!

[edesignuk]

The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/25/p2p_disconnection/) also have an article on this.
The unscheduled changes to the Digital Britain consultation also envisage a more powerful, direct role for Lord Mandelson. Despite denials last week, the news will reignite speculation that the First Secretary of State's stance against illegal peer to peer was hardened by a summer holiday meeting with Hollywood mogul David Geffen.
What a cock. Just crawl in to a hole and die Maddy.

[BoyBach]

Bloody Mandelson, isn't it about time he got himself fired again?

Former BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan is working on it. (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23618111-details/So%20how%20did%20Mandy%20buy%20his%20£2.5%20million%20Regency%20villa/article.do?expand=true#StartComments) Mandelson and dodgy mortgages. Who'd have thunk it?


If Lord Protector Mandy has stepped in then you can be 99% certain that some money has been chucked his way. (Did I just say that!? ;)) (EDIT: ^ It appears that my gut reaction might be right!)

[niuniu]

Hope someone hacks his family PC and does a file search for p2p files. Bet either himself or someone in his fam have got pirated files downloaded..

[arkitect]

Hope someone hacks his family PC and does a file search for p2p files. Bet either himself or someone in his fam have got pirated files downloaded..

*pffft* Don't kid yourself.
Our Master of the Universe, Baron Mandy of Foy and Hartlepool, aka Nu-Labor Kiss of Death, has got more important things to do.

This guy is seriously bad news — even his friends would agree…
;)

[arkitect]

Who is batting for file-sharing proposals?
Link… (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2009/08/peter_just_doesnt_get_the.html)

Resistance is building… let's hope Mandy meets his Waterloo. :)

And here as well. Link… (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8219652.stm)
Internet service providers (ISPs) have reacted with anger to new proposals on how to tackle internet piracy.

The government is proposing a tougher stance which would include cutting off repeat offenders from the net.

UK ISP Talk Talk said the recommendations were likely to "breach fundamental rights" and would not work.

Virgin said that "persuasion not coercion" was key in the fight to crack down on the estimated six million file-sharers in the UK.

TalkTalk's director of regulation Andrew Heaney told the BBC News the ISP was as keen as anyone to clamp down on illegal file-sharers.

"This is best done by making sure there are legal alternatives and educating people, writing letters to alleged file-sharers and, if necessary, taking them to court.

But introducing measures to simply cut people off will not work, he said.

"Disconnecting alleged offenders will be futile given that it is relatively easy for determined file-sharers to mask their identity or their activity to avoid detection," he added.

There are also concerns that the method of identifying offenders using the IP address of a specific machine may punish those who share a web connection.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Media was concerned that a "heavy-handed, punitive regime will simply alienate consumers".

It was also concerned about the costs of implementing such a system.

[cuestakid]

Here in the US, a bill(the higher education bill) was passed last year stating the following

[QUOTE] * provide annual disclosure/warnings to the students applying for or receiving financial aid, stating that:
o
o P2P file sharing may subject them to civil and criminal liability;
o summary of penalty for violation of copyright laws;
o University’s policy of disciplinary action for using university’s IT for unauthorized downloads; and
o the actions that the University takes to detect such activities;
* develop plans for offering alternative to illegal downloading or P2P distribution; and
* develop plans to deter illegal downloading.

http://www.bizorigin.com/2007/riaa_nuclear_option
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2326961,00.asp

[oscillatewildly]

Cheap secondhand laptop, portable storage, and other people's networks -

Can the ISPs track and identify the person hacking/waltzing on to the networks of others?

Cheers,
OW

[iPhone 62S]

Cheap secondhand laptop, portable storage, and other people's networks -

Can the ISPs track and identify the person hacking/waltzing on to the networks of others?

Cheers,
OW

Nope. The guys who run the network might be able to find your MAC address, but that's utterly useless for tracking you.

[anim8or]

How exactly can they tell what you are downloading isnt legal....?

I use iTunes and XBOX Live ALL THE TIME!

Can they tell that when i do venture to share a TV show with friends or upload work via online storage that one is legal and one isnt?

Surely in finding out exactly what people are uploading and downloading is a breach of our right to privacy??

[iPhone 62S]

How exactly can they tell what you are downloading isnt legal....?

I use iTunes and XBOX Live ALL THE TIME!

Can they tell that when i do venture to share a TV show with friends or upload work via online storage that one is legal and one isnt?

Surely in finding out exactly what people are uploading and downloading is a breach of our right to privacy??

They monitor p2p networks and send IPs on them to the high court, get the details, and send letters or whatever to the people.

The problem is that by the time the process is complete, that IP is usually being used by someone else, so they end up going after the wrong people.

The other problem is, like I said before, the people who do pirate will just take measures to keep themselves hidden and nothing will change.

[anim8or]

They monitor p2p networks and send IPs on them to the high court, get the details, and send letters or whatever to the people.

The problem is that by the time the process is complete, that IP is usually being used by someone else, so they end up going after the wrong people.

The other problem is, like I said before, the people who do pirate will just take measures to keep themselves hidden and nothing will change.

I would assume that the extreme pirates that they talk of are the ones who download GBs of illegal downloads a month, week or even day..... I know that my TV shows watching probably only accounts for 10-15% of my upload and download amounts.

Its always the same case.... some people take advantage so the rest of us have to suffer because of others' greed.

[iPhone 62S]

I would assume that the extreme pirates that they talk of are the ones who download GBs of illegal downloads a month, week or even day..... I know that my TV shows watching probably only accounts for 10-15% of my upload and download amounts.

Its always the same case.... some people take advantage so the rest of us have to suffer because of others' greed.

By others' greed, do you mean the entertainment industry? Because, honestly, the truth is they arn't loosing anything like what they are making out. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSQQ1NqOaA4)

[barkmonster]

Maybe a protester could throw toxic waste over Mandelson this time instead of custard?

How am I going to time-shift shows that UK networks are too dumb to put on their main channel till the 4th series, constantly move the schedule around and then just when they get their act together, lose it to a paid for but still commercial filled, Cable/Satellite only channel?

I need my fix to make up for all those lousy shows like One Tree Hill, reality TV and those endlessly cheap to produce C list celebrities crowing on about their top 100 favourite whatever type shows that just waste 3 hours of scheduling where they could be showing something decent instead.

I can't wait ages for the UK DVD releases of a show I've watched 4 seasons of. I'm talking of course about this show:

[iPhone 62S]

Maybe a protester could throw toxic waste over Mandelson this time instead of custard?

How am I going to time-shift shows that UK networks are too dumb to put on their main channel till the 4th series, constantly move the schedule around and then just when they get their act together, lose it to a paid for but still commercial filled, Cable/Satellite only channel?

I need my fix to make up for all those lousy shows like One Tree Hill, reality TV and those endlessly cheap to produce C list celebrities crowing on about their top 100 favourite whatever type shows that just waste 3 hours of scheduling where they could be showing something decent instead.

I can't wait ages for the UK DVD releases of a show I've watched 4 seasons of. I'm talking of course about this show:

That's another thing, I don't see why we can't legally torrent TV shows anyway. We can record them from TV legally to watch whenever we want un-DRM'd, but not download them... Why?

[barkmonster]

That's my exact point. It's basically time shifting. It's not like your getting something comparable to DVD.

DVD: - 720 x 480/576 Anamorphic Video, 24 bit audio, menus, extras, deleted scenes, high bitrate etc...

Blueray: 1920 x 1080, uncompressed 24 bit audio, menus, extras etc...

Xvid/DivX: 640 x 352, 128Kb Mp3 audio, graphical junk all over the picture from the network (ads for shows coming up, network logo).

Recording directly from TV with a DVD or Hard Disk recorder would only give you all the overlays and stuff from a DivX file, just at DVD quality. You'd still have every incentive in the world to buy the DVD.

I don't want to turn this into a discussion about Apple's iTunes store but as for "legal" alternatives to digital downloads, I'm sticking with music only after the experience I had when I bought an episode of Family Guy from the iTunes store...

It had a big black square in the corner for most of the title sequence with the logo "TV14DSLV".

It lacked additional scenes of the DVD version, you'd assume Apple would at least be selling the same product in digital form.

Why was it worth £1.79 when I can buy 13 episodes on DVD with extras for £16

[iPhone 62S]

That's my exact point. It's basically time shifting. It's not like your getting something comparable to DVD.

DVD: - 720 x 480/576 Anamorphic Video, 24 bit audio, menus, extras, deleted scenes, high bitrate etc...

Blueray: 1920 x 1080, uncompressed 24 bit audio, menus, extras etc...

Xvid/DivX: 640 x 352, 128Kb Mp3 audio, graphical junk all over the picture from the network (ads for shows coming up, network logo).

Recording directly from TV with a DVD or Hard Disk recorder would only give you all the overlays and stuff from a DivX file, just at DVD quality. You'd still have every incentive in the world to buy the DVD.

I don't want to turn this into a discussion about Apple's iTunes store but as for "legal" alternatives to digital downloads, I'm sticking with music only after the experience I had when I bought an episode of Family Guy from the iTunes store...

It had a big black square in the corner for most of the title sequence with the logo "TV14DSLV".

It lacked additional scenes of the DVD version, you'd assume Apple would at least be selling the same product in digital form.

Why was it worth £1.79 when I can buy 13 episodes on DVD with extras for £16

Yup, it's a huge rip-off.

I also see nothing wrong with ripping DVDs for private use. I mean, I've got a fully legal DVD which I can watch, and I just want to see the film on my iPhone, so why should I buy the same thing again just to have it on another device? It's utterly stupid.

TBH though, I highly doubt anyone will get done for ripping DVDs for personal use, same as with CDs (yes, ripping your own CDs is illegal too under British law).

[niuniu]

When actors stop getting paid 10's of millions of dollars for a movie and publishers stop raking in 100's of millions in profit then I'll start feeling bad about having a few ripped movies on my HD :rolleyes:

[iBlue]

When actors stop getting paid 10's of millions of dollars for a movie and publishers stop raking in 100's of millions in profit then I'll start feeling bad about having a few ripped movies on my HD :rolleyes:

Lies, you won't feel bad. :p


On the topic of piracy: Know what really gets on my tits? When I BUY a DVD and I am forced to watch the most obnoxious anti-piracy BS ad. I mean, talk about reaching the wrong audience. You know what I'm talking about (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRVHUbrbEUA) (parody of the actual teeth-grinding POS on every DVD I've purchased in recent years) I'm ever so glad I choose to buy and get stuck with crap I wouldn't have to deal with if I had pirated. :rolleyes:

[iPhone 62S]

Lies, you won't feel bad. :p


On the topic of piracy: Know what really gets on my tits? When I BUY a DVD and I am forced to watch the most obnoxious anti-piracy BS ad. I mean, talk about reaching the wrong audience. You know what I'm talking about (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRVHUbrbEUA) (parody of the actual teeth-grinding POS on every DVD I've purchased in recent years) I'm ever so glad I choose to buy and get stuck with crap I wouldn't have to deal with if I had pirated. :rolleyes:

Yes but how else will the MPAA compare piracy to stupid things so they can annoy their customers? Clearly propaganda like that is the only option! :p

Oh, and I prefer this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALZZx1xmAzg) :D

[iBlue]

Yes but how else will the MPAA compare piracy to stupid things so they can annoy their customers? Clearly propaganda like that is the only option! :p

Oh, and I prefer this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALZZx1xmAzg) :D

:D nice vid!

Really, I can't imagine anyone who would enjoy those forced anti-piracy ads. Frequent pirates just wonder why they bothered buying if they have to deal with this crap, and people who don't pirate, what, get a sense of smug satisfaction? It's irritating and completely pointless. I wonder what brainiac thought it was a good idea. I'd like to give them a swift punch in the junk for pissing me off before every movie I watch now. Wankers.

</rant>

[arkitect]

I love the ads you get in the cinemas asking you to report anyone seen recording the movie…

For the life of me, frequent movie-goer as I am, I have never had occasion to.
I have seen some other stuff happen in the backrow, but never mind… that's for a different thread. ;)

[iPhone 62S]

:D nice vid!

Really, I can't imagine anyone who would enjoy those forced anti-piracy ads. Frequent pirates just wonder why they bothered buying if they have to deal with this crap, and people who don't pirate, what, get a sense of smug satisfaction? It's irritating and completely pointless. I wonder what brainiac thought it was a good idea. I'd like to give them a swift punch in the junk for pissing me off before every movie I watch now. Wankers.

</rant>

Couldn't agree more, maybe they thought "by pissing everyone off, our profits will increase even more than they already are, despite the fact that piracy is meant to be killing the industry".

Oh, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWPfcEOr2Yg :p

[iPhone 62S]

Oh and BTW, here (http://torrentfreak.com/us-pirate-party-study-shatters-mpaa-claims-080709/) is a real study proving that the MPAA is talking crap about their "losses" due to piracy.

[barkmonster]

I love the ads you get in the cinemas asking you to report anyone seen recording the movie…

For the life of me, frequent movie-goer as I am, I have never had occasion to.
I have seen some other stuff happen in the backrow, but never mind… that's for a different thread. ;)

Between High School and College I worked in a Cinema for a few months and a film about models was out. A guy got a bit excited watching it and they made one of the ushers go in afterwards to deal with what he left behind. I was so glad I was only 17 then and couldn't work as an usher myself :D

On the topic of piracy: Know what really gets on my tits? When I BUY a DVD and I am forced to watch the most obnoxious anti-piracy BS ad. I mean, talk about reaching the wrong audience. You know what I'm talking about (parody of the actual teeth-grinding POS on every DVD I've purchased in recent years) I'm ever so glad I choose to buy and get stuck with crap I wouldn't have to deal with if I had pirated.

I agree there. In the UK, you have to flick through 3 pages of different language options, fast-forward the annoying video then still sit through a still screen of text you can't skip afterwards before the menu loads.

More often than not, you get the rules about where you can watch the film in yet another still frame you can't skip once you press play too.

[OutSpoken]

I need my fix to make up for all those lousy shows like One Tree Hill, reality TV and those endlessly cheap to produce C list celebrities crowing on about their top 100 favourite whatever type shows that just waste 3 hours of scheduling where they could be showing something decent instead.

I can't wait ages for the UK DVD releases of a show I've watched 4 seasons of.


Too true:D

UK TV is flooded by reality shows these days...

By the way saw Supernatural for the first time last night, wasn't bad, will tune in again next time its on.

[arkitect]

If he wasn't holidaying regularly on their yachts and villas he'd probably not give a fig…
:rolleyes:
People who persistently download illegal content will be cut off from the net, Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has announced.

Speaking at a government-sponsored forum to debate copyright issues he said the UK would introduce a similar policy to France.

It means persistent pirates will be sent two warning letters before facing disconnection from the network.
Link… (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8328820.stm)

[edesignuk]

OH HAI MADDY http://up.edesignuk.com/files/1/Images/Smilies/MoFugger.gif

[davidjearly]

Good stuff.

[iPhone 62S]

This simply will not work. I'll give it a week or two before all the proper filesharers in the UK start using proxies, VPN services, etc.

Plus, I don't think these guys understand just how easy it is to download music from YouTube in a way that's virtually untraceable. There are even whole albums up on there, just get a converter program and you're sorted.

Not to mention that this will "catch" many innocent people who haven't even done anything wrong.

[gnasher729]

Bloody Mandelson, isn't it about time he got himself fired again?

Bloody Mandelson also said that he would love to work with the Tories when they get elected. Seems to be no way to get rid of him, like a rash, or more like an STD.

[Peterkro]

The Polis and the intelligence services are apparently against this:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6885923.ece

[NATO]

Can they get that legislation passed in time for the election? If so, won't the Conservatives likely reverse it anyway?

[RedTomato]

Bloody Mandelson also said that he would love to work with the Tories when they get elected. Seems to be no way to get rid of him, like a rash, or more like an STD.

Nae way! He's becoming quite the Tallyrand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Maurice_de_Talleyrand-P%C3%A9rigord) of our times.

I can easily see him licking Cameron's bum. Probably tastes the same as Blair's bum.

EDIT:

Juicy quote from teh wiki:
Typically of Talleyrand, it is hard to determine where his principles met his pecuniary interests. Growing weary of Napoleon's endless ambitions, which he felt would ruin France, he became a paid agent of the opposing powers, most notably Austria and the United Kingdom. His agitations against the Spanish campaign, which he considered unwise, produced a rapprochement with Joseph Fouché and convinced Napoleon that Talleyrand was plotting against him.

This perception caused the famous dressing down of Talleyrand in front of Napoleon's marshals, during which Napoleon famously claimed that he could "break him like a glass, but it's not worth the trouble" and added with his usual scatologic tone that Talleyrand was "***** in a silk stocking", to which the minister coldly retorted, once Napoleon had left, "Pity that so great a man should have been so badly brought up."

Yup, sounds just like our Mandy and Gordo Brown.

[stridemat]

ahem run a VPN ahem

apparently Im from Stockholm????;)

Speeds are affected a little but not that noticeable

[iPhone 62S]

http://www.dontdisconnect.us
http://torrentfreak.com/isp-threatens-legal-action-against-uk-over-anti-piracy-plans-091029/
http://www.pirateparty.org.uk/blog/2009/oct/31/sign-petition-and-talk-talk-pirate/
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/dontdisconnectus/

The war has begun...

[Dagless]

I'm completely against piracy but this is taking it too far. Throw fines at people, just don't cut them off.
Although is there much point in fining people who already can't afford media?