Virgin Media Adopts Three-Strikes Rule for Illegal Downloads [Archive]

xxMATTGxx

31-03-2008, 06:34 PM

The UK's largest residential broadband provider, Virgin Media, has announced its intention to introduce a warning system for those caught engaged in illegal downloading (piracy). It is expected to be very similar to the controversial "Three-Strikes" method proposed by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and will go live within the next few months.

More information and the source at;

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/news/EkpylyVFEVprNOiCbo.html

So what do we all think eh? Well I'm with VM, this is going to be fun.

360

31-03-2008, 06:36 PM

better get downloading... just a couple of months

actually, comming to think of it you'd probably get a proxy past vm

Jordy

31-03-2008, 06:43 PM

Indeed I shall be using proxies and I won't leave my computer on seeding anymore, I'll limit my downloads to absolutely necessary one's and I'll try keep out popular Music, it won't stop me but it will make my life more difficult and make me slow down.

Edit: One google search seems to resolve my problems: http://www.torent-zone.com/proxy/free-proxy-list.php

I've tried the Columbian proxy and no such problems and still pretty good speed. Recommended.

kk.

31-03-2008, 06:48 PM

now one companies doing it i think all of them will..
the thing is, how are students supposed to learn gain experience of programs if we cant use them lol
i dont mind the music however. at least it will stop my mum from nagging me to download her songs

Minstrels

31-03-2008, 06:50 PM

xxMATTGxx

31-03-2008, 06:51 PM

BT, Orange and Sky aren't. ;)

"The government has already threatened to introduce enforced legislation by April next year unless ISPs agree to some form of voluntary measures with the creative industries. "

Who knows what will happen...

Nereo

31-03-2008, 06:56 PM

I'm sure some computer nerd will invent some system to get round this easily:D

:job2

31-03-2008, 06:59 PM

I can see A LOT of people getting there internet cut off for downloading music. Iv never been so happy to be with BT lol. The reason people download so much is because the prices of goods such as music, software (especially software) and games is because there prices are disgusting. So maybe the government should start making things more affordable rather than making them go without and letting companies charging stupid prices

kk.

31-03-2008, 07:00 PM

well if they arent at the moment, then they will soon. my opinion anyway :P

31-03-2008, 07:00 PM

i dont think we need to worry too much, they cant physically track and stop every single thing everyone in the country is doing

samsaBEAR

31-03-2008, 07:06 PM

i dont think we need to worry too much, they cant physically track and stop every single thing everyone in the country is doing
its illegal to monitor the packages you send and recieve via the internet. so how would they know you were downloading illegally?

kk.

31-03-2008, 07:08 PM

i dont know actually. new laws maybe?

blanky12!

31-03-2008, 07:12 PM

its illegal to monitor the packages you send and recieve via the internet. so how would they know you were downloading illegally?
isn't that data protection act if they do decide to spy on you?

Jamesy

31-03-2008, 07:12 PM

Oh for god's sake.

YOU CAN'T ENFORCE THE INTERNET DAMNIT. THE INTERNET IS FREEDOM!

*emo cuts* My life is over :(

:job2

31-03-2008, 07:16 PM

I thought it was illegal to track your activity but wasn't sure. I guess the government are just going to change the law, but lets face it even if they do change it there will still be a way to get it without getting caught

samsaBEAR

31-03-2008, 07:17 PM

isn't that data protection act if they do decide to spy on you?
afaik yeh, its against the data protection act to spy on someone's internet usage.

Jamesy

31-03-2008, 07:17 PM

what does AFAIK mean? I can never remember...

Robbie

31-03-2008, 07:18 PM

As far as I know :)

awelsh

31-03-2008, 07:20 PM

ahh great, virgin are the most **** ISP ive ever had too -.- now they just top it all and do that :(

Niall!

31-03-2008, 07:22 PM

Luckily I live in France and the french are so technologically ******ed that music download isn't a big thing here.

Jordy

31-03-2008, 07:22 PM

I'm sure some computer nerd will invent some system to get round this easily:DYeah, proxies, and you don't even need to be a nerd to use one ;)

Blob

31-03-2008, 07:23 PM

awelsh

31-03-2008, 07:25 PM

Can't they see the sites your on though?

Your internet browser >>>> Contacts Virgin Media's thingy

Virgin Media log the site >>>> Sends you the page

Well
Im dumb at this stuff, but doesnt it go through their server (the pages)

but theres a few million people, so they couldnt really track every single packet your computer sends and recieves

Blob

31-03-2008, 07:26 PM

but theres a few million people, so they couldnt really track every single packet your computer sends and recieves

Maybe flag sites and if it see's you visiting a flagged site / not just like file it up for checking?

awelsh

31-03-2008, 07:29 PM

Maybe flag sites and if it see's you visiting a flagged site / not just like file it up for checking?

dont really know how they will work it out to track anything, maybe they will have some sort of list of download websites that they will block, but then you could just use proxy's to get past that. And torrent files woiuld be even harder to lock down on wouldnt they?

Jordy

31-03-2008, 07:31 PM

Luckily I live in France and the french are so technologically ******ed that music download isn't a big thing here.I guess you should know as you live in France so your probably right but I thought the French where the first to implement the three-strikes system in the first place and they set off the anti-torrent theme in Europe? I could be wrong but I think they're the toughest on it and they started all this three-strike rules. I'm sure the French are probably more technological advanced than us :P

Edit: My thoughts where true:
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/2404/196/
http://www.escholarlypub.com/digitalkoans/2008/02/15/frances-three-strikes-copyright-proposal-crosses-the-english-channel/
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=france+three-strikes&btnG=Google%20Search&meta=

The post below couldn't be more true!

awelsh

31-03-2008, 07:31 PM

I guess you should know as you live in France so your probably right but I thought the French where the first to implement the three-strikes system in the first place and they set off the anti-torrent theme in Europe? I could be wrong but I think they're the toughest on it and they started all this three-strike rules. I'm sure the French are probably more technological advanced than us :P

damn the french

Edited by Kaotix (Forum Moderator): Please don't post pointlessly.

Robbie

31-03-2008, 07:43 PM

Wow Virgin Media are becoming spies.

First VM, BT, and TalkTalk sign a deal with Phorm (www.badphorm.co.uk (http://www.badphorm.co.uk)) to give them a list of every site we go on so they can intercept our service with "targeted advertising", and god knows what else, now they spy on what we download. How are they going to distinguish between good and bad downloads, legal and not legal. How many customers download music, I'd say 9/10 do, and it's the BPI that are tracing this, not Virgin Media really, the BPI check it all out then give our IP's and Account Numbers etc. to Virgin Media, who will then do all this 3 strike system thing. The BPI are going to have their work cut out. Richard Branson: "Lets sell our customers history to Phorm and give it to the BPI, yay that will get us more customers!".

What a load of rubbish, I am now seriously considering changing. BeThere are also adopting this, fgs.

/rantover.

Wizard

31-03-2008, 07:52 PM

WHY VIRGIN MEDIA?!?!?! WHYYYY?
:(

awelsh

31-03-2008, 07:54 PM

Back to aol for me hopefully, or I could jus leech of one of my neighbours wireless as theres 2 that I can connect too :P

Robbie

31-03-2008, 08:14 PM

I have 4 unsecured wireless networks near me, all Virgin!

Nli.

31-03-2008, 08:15 PM

This is all confusing seeing as there is data protection involved, how would they know what were looking at or not?

Jordan3606

31-03-2008, 09:11 PM

afaik yeh, its against the data protection act to spy on someone's internet usage.

I thought ISP's recorded your net browsing history to make sure you're not viewing illegal websites? Or I may be mistaken...

Anyway, I'm not with Virgin Media so I shall enjoy free music downloads before BT decide to take up this scheme :P

StefanCampbell

31-03-2008, 09:18 PM

Encrypt your downloads and use proxy? simple?

N!ck

31-03-2008, 09:38 PM

It is pretty much impossible to tell legal downloads from illegal without using extensively monitoring what you're doing, which is probably against the data protection act anyway.

If you get cut off for using BitTorrent just claim it is the only fesable means for you to download opensource data like Linux distributions. The chances are they wont't be able to tell the difference.

Dentafrice

31-03-2008, 09:40 PM

I don't see how they will know it is "illegal" downloading.

Bittorent clients, as well as most P2P file sharing applications are perfectly legal, just some of the content on them are not.

Unless they are like "spying" on you, they wouldn't know what you are downloading? They would only see a connection between a computer and you, sharing a file would they not?