UK ISPs Angry With Proposed New File Sharing Laws

mindbrane writes: Once in a while a sidebar will throw a lot of light on a difficult problem. The BBC has a short piece on British ISPs anger over proposed new laws governing file sharing in the UK. Proposed new laws would include cutting repeat offenders off from the Internet. Response suggests such tactics would fail. "UK ISP Talk Talk said the recommendations were likely to "breach fundamental rights" and would not work. ...Virgin said that "persuasion not coercion" was key in the fight to crack down on the estimated six million file-sharers in the UK. ...TalkTalk's director of regulation Andrew Heaney told the BBC News the ISP was as keen as anyone to clamp down on illegal file-sharers. ..."This is best done by making sure there are legal alternatives and educating people, writing letters to alleged file-sharers and, if necessary, taking them to court."" Another interesting bit suggested "internet service providers (ISPs) are obliged to take action against repeat infringers and suggests that the cost of tracking down persistent pirates be shared 50:50 between ISPs and rights holders.", and, seconded by right holders... "The proposal has been welcomed by the BPI, which represents the recorded music industry in Britain." I fear an unholy alliance is in the making.