UK : Internet provider fires shot across bows of music industry on piracy

TalkTalk, the internet service-provider owned by Carphone Warehouse, has flatly rejected demands from the music and film industries that it should "police" the internet and cut off some broadband customers in an attempt to stem the flood of illegal file-sharing. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), has suggested persistent illegal file-sharers should be warned by their service providers and then be cut off under a "three strikes and you're out" rule. (The Guardian)

Virgin Media in talks to trial three strikes regime against P2P

Virgin Media could soon become the second major ISP to attempt to implement a "three strikes" system against illegal filesharers in partnership with the record industry. The cable company is in talks with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) to trial a system of warnings, followed by disconnection, for the most persistent copyright infringers. It's the same scheme that Tiscali briefly put in place last summer. That led to 4 customers being disconnected after allegedly ignoring the warnings, but relations between Tiscali and the BPI collapsed in a row over how the costs should be shared. (The Register)

Labels Applaud U.K. Govt. Proposal to Have ISPs Police P2P

The U.K. government is expected within coming weeks to propose legislation that would require ISPs to send notices to subscribers using their accounts for illegal file-sharing, and then dole out suspensions or terminations for repeated abuses, Billboard and others reported. "The tide of opinion is flowing in favour of ISP responsibility," said John Kennedy, chairman and CEO of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). (Digital Media Wire)

UK Slump in album sales could see end of CD

The BPI, which represents the UK music industry, has revealed that sales of albums had plunged by a remarkable 10.8 per cent in 2007. Despite the success of home-grown acts such as Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis, whose albums Back to Black and Spirit shifted four million albums between them, 2007 was far from a vintage year for new releases with 16 million fewer albums sold than in 2006. (The Independent)