ONLINE PIRACY CRACKDOWN TO TARGET PARENTS

The warning came yesterday in a new crackdown on online piracy.

Internet providers and music bosses have joined forces to  combat a practice they say will cost the industry £1billion over the next five years.

In the past year alone 6.5million Britons downloaded music and films illegally, in breach of copyright agreements.

Many are thought to be under 16.

Yesterday Britain’s six largest internet service providers – BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse – agreed an anti-piracy alliance with the British Phonographic Industry. 

They will be able to spot the most prolific downloaders and hundreds of thousands of letters will be sent to bill-payers. They will be warned that their illegal activity has been detected. 

This may be the first time that many parents hear that their children have been downloading illegally. 

Households which ignore the warning letters may then be subject to online monitoring.

Further sanctions will be imposed on those which continue the illegal downloads.

This could include their internet connection speeds being cut. 

The providers have also pledged to ensure their customers know it is illegal to share music and other media which is protected by copyright.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said the success of Britain’s creative industries depended on a workable copyright system.

“It’s a great thing that new technology lets young people explore popular culture in a way my generation could not.

“But this freedom cannot extend to allowing people to think they can access content for free.”