ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Internet users who illegally share music, movies or television shows online could soon receive warning notices from the nation's five major Internet service providers.

The Copyright Alert System, organized by the recording and film industry, is being activated this week to target consumers using peer-to-peer software.

Under the new system, complaints will prompt an Internet service provider — such as Verizon or AT&T — to notify a customer whose Internet address has been detected sharing files illegally. A person will be given up to six opportunities to stop before the Internet provider will take more drastic steps, such as temporarily slowing their connection, or redirecting Internet traffic until they acknowledge they received a notice or review educational materials about copyright law.

Consumers who maintain they have been wrongly accused would be forced to pay $35 to appeal the decision. The fee would be reimbursed if they prevail.

Proponents say the focus is on deterring the average consumer rather than chronic violators. The director of the organization behind the system, Jill Lesser of the Center for Copyright Infringement, said in a blog post Monday that the program is "meant to educate rather than punish, and direct (users) to legal alternatives."

Each Internet provider is expected to implement their own system. The program gives each customer five or six "strikes" after a music or film company has detected illegal file-sharing and lodged a complaint. The first alerts are expected to be educational, while the third and fourth would require the customer to acknowledge that they have received the warnings and understand their behavior is illegal. The final warnings are expected to lead to "mitigation measures," such as slowing a person's Internet connection speeds.

Officials involved in the effort acknowledge it's unlikely to stop the biggest violators. There are ways to disguise an IP address or use a neighbor's connection that is unlocked. Public wireless connections, such as those offered at coffee shops, also won't be monitored

Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/21347184/ne...s#ixzz2LxhBks9T

And, probably as usual, the file sharers will find away around this.

I wonder if it detects file endings..in that case, all the sender has to do is change the ending..and when the person receives it, changes it back.

I am astounded that BOTH of my providers, AT&T and Verizon, THINK THEY HAVE A RIGHT to examine my emails, downloads and shared files ??

WHERE ARE MY RIGHTS TO PRIVACY on the internet ??

Big Brother is everywhere !!!!

Whatever happen to "Behind Closed Doors" - lol ???

Quote: kazy wrote in post #5

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Don't think this is what is happening, they are only acting on complaints from third parties.

Seems like a silly process to me. More like trying to look like your doing something about piracy on the internet just to get out implementing tougher regulations later.

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