Carphone Warehouse blasts ISPs' three-strikes policy

"We do not control ... what our users do on the internet."

4 April 2008 9:34 GMT / By Katie Scott

The Carphone Warehouse has hit out at a proposed policy that would see ISPs cut-off internet users if they are caught downloading copyrighted material.

According to online reports on Monday, Virgin Media had suggested a "three strikes and you're out" policy in talks with the British Phonographic Industry - the organisation which represents many of the music labels.

But Carphone Warehouse, which sells broadband through TalkTalk, has now blasted the policy as unworkable.

In a scathing letter the Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone, writes: "We are the conduit that gives users access to the internet, we do not control the internet nor do we control what our users do on the internet".

"I cannot foresee any circumstances in which we would voluntarily disconnect a customer's account on the basis of a third party alleging a wrong doing."

"We believe that a fundamental part of our role as an ISP is to protect the rights of our users to use the internet as they choose. The music industry has consistently failed to adapt to changes in technology and now seeks to foist their problems on someone else."

Dunstone added that his company will actually takes both practical and legal steps to protect its customers.

But the BPI has responded that is not going to ask ISPs to actually police their customers, but educate internet users on illegal file sharing and P2P services.

It will, however, also ask ISPs to act on any evidence it gathers against a customer.

Meanwhile, PC Pro writes that Orange is considering a system that will warn its customers that if they are caught illegally filesharing, their details will be passed onto the BPI.