James Delahunty
18 Feb 2007 16:27
Users of peer-to-peer file sharing utilities in Canada have been receiving emails if they are found to be sharing copyrighted content. This is not a new concept in the global fight against Internet piracy but it is interesting considering how much pressure has been on Canada lately over its enforcement of intellectual property protection.
Canadian ISPs, including Rogers, Bell and Telus, have volunteered to forward email warnings to subscribers on behalf of major content companies (mostly located in the United States). Telus forwards an average of 4,000 notices every month. This campaign is dubbed "notice and notice."
Users are identified by IP address when they are sharing files on P2P networks and BitTorrent trackers. The identification process is not hard at all, especially when the ISPs are on your side. The Business Software Alliance (BSA) was responsible for about 60,000 "notice and notice" e-mails to Canadian file sharers in 2006.
"They've been most effective," Neil MacBride, a vice-president with the BSA, said.
Source:
CBC