ISPs Throttle Users, Block Websites in New RIAA/MPAA Plan Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, NCTA in Talks With RIAA/MPAA Back in 2008 we noted how the RIAA was planning to ditch their scorched earth legal assault against P2P users, and replace it with a "graduated response" or three strikes approach, wherein users who repeatedly engaged in copyright infringement received three warning letters -- then had their accounts terminated. ISPs at the time weren't thrilled with the idea of booting paying customers, so most simply agreed to continue forwarding warning letters. Some, like Cox Communications, started kicking users off of the network, but only in extreme situations and after many, many warnings. Other ISPs, like Verizon, began threatening P2P users with termination, though we confirmed this was a bluff and that no user connections had been terminated. Qwest also joined this effort, but wouldn't talk to us about what they were doing, and found themselves in legal hot water after they were sued for falsely accusing a grandmother with an unsecured hotspot of piracy. In short: a lot of these ISPs were bluffing. According to a report by CNET, several ISPs may soon voluntarily begin implementing more serious graduated response programs. According to CNET, Comcast, Verizon and AT&T have been working closely with the entertainment industry on an agreement that would have them imposing harsher punishments on P2P users. Under this plan, terminating accounts won't be part of the equation, but users could find themselves throttled to slower speeds -- or unable to access most websites -- until they stop exchanging copyrighted files: quote: Participating ISPs are given plenty of leeway to choose how to proceed. They can select from a "menu" of responses outlined in the plan, such as throttling down an accused customer's bandwidth speed or limit their access to the Web. For example, a suspected pirate may be allowed to visit only the top 200 Web sites until they stop illegal file sharing. The subscriber may also be asked to participate in a program that educates them on copyright law and the rights of content creators. The ISPs and copyright owners will share the costs of operating the program, sources said. The report notes that the deal was brokered with the help of the NCTA, the cable industry's largest lobbying organization (run by former FCC boss Michael Powell), as well as with encouragement by the White House. While it's interesting to see the entertainment industry move away from forced disconnection, the as-yet-unsigned plan still features the same problems: information used to target the guilty is often unreliable (unsecured hotspots), falsely accused usually aren't provided adequate means to fight their accusers, -- and it's difficult if not impossible to track users across ISPs.And while such plans impose new dangers and likely higher prices upon innocent users, those intent on downloading copyrighted films and music will always find a way to do so, using proxy or VPN services to mask their footprints and dodge these programs -- as they've been doing for years. If history is any indication, this new effort likely won't do much to stop piracy, but it will create a minefield of new problems for both ISPs and users. The report notes that the deal was brokered with the help of the NCTA, the cable industry's largest lobbying organization (run by former FCC boss Michael Powell), as well as with encouragement by the White House. While it's interesting to see the entertainment industry move away from forced disconnection, the as-yet-unsigned plan still features the same problems: information used to target the guilty is often unreliable (unsecured hotspots), falsely accused usually aren't provided adequate means to fight their accusers, -- and it's difficult if not impossible to track users across ISPs.And while such plans impose new dangersupon innocent users, those intent on downloading copyrighted films and music will always find a way to do so, using proxy or VPN services to mask their footprints and dodge these programs -- as they've been doing for years. If history is any indication, this new effort likely won't do much to stop piracy, but it will create a minefield of new problems for both ISPs and users.







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fuziwuzi

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2 recommendations fuziwuzi Premium Member American GFW? Every day the US gets closer and closer to emulating China. A conservative, single-party government, unrestricted capitalism, dismantling government regulations on safety and environment, censoring internet, citizens being "detained for questioning" simply for protesting...



My partner in Shanghai is forced to use a VPN for his internet use, and I guess I will have to join him, now.