If you're suspected of naughtily downloading copyrighted content, then expect the most savage of punishments: a letter asking you to stop. BT, Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk have signed a deal with the music and movie industries whereby the ISPs will send out "educational" missives to pirates from next year. The deal is the culmination of four years of negotiation between the big four and the lobby groups, the latter of which wanted much stronger action and access to a database of serial torrenters. Thankfully, the internet companies won out, so the odd letter asking you to re-think your ways is the only thing you've got to deal with... for now.