Irish Cut-Off Rogue Downloaders

Ireland's State owned communications business, Eircom, has begun to implement new procedures to cut off the broadband service of customers found repeatedly sharing copyright content illegally online.
Ireland is the first country in the world where a system of 'graduated response' is being put in place.
Under the pilot scheme, Eircom customers who illegally share copyrighted music will get three warnings before having their broadband service cut off for a year.
The Irish Recorded Music Association, whose members include EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner, reached an out-of-court settlement with Eircom in February 2009 under which the telecoms company agreed to introduce such a system for its 750,000 broadband users.
(BMcC)