Watch Out! Illegal Downloaders Facing Internet ban

The six million people who download music and films illegally in the UK every year are going to have to watch their backs - as well as their pirated movies.

A planned Government crackdown - to be announced next week - will target those caught illegally downloading music and films and try to have them banned from the Internet.

All those who are suspected of wrongly downloading pirated material will receive a warning email for the first offence, a temporary suspension from going online for the second and if they commit a third crime they will find their web contract will be terminated, under the new proposals.

Every broadband company will be expected to enforce these rules and firms who fail to adhere to the guidelines could be prosecuted.

The new plans are currently under consultation by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport but it could mean that offenders details are shared amongst internet providers such as Orange, BT, Tiscali and Virgin Media to try and curb the number of crimes.

The rules are part of plans to cut down on the growing numbers of people illegally downloading material.

It is thought that six million broadband users in Britain access material unlawfully every year.

Already America and France have taken action on such offences and the Government is under growing pressure to introduce its own legislation.

Ministers are expected to launch a Green Paper next week outlining plans that companies would be required to take action on people illegally downloading files.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture Media and Sport said: "Early drafts of our creative economy programme document were circulated to stakeholders for comment.

"The content and proposals for the strategy have been significantly developed since then and a comprehensive plan to bolster the UK’s creative industries will be published shortly."

Downloading files illegally is said to be costing music and film companies billions in lost revenue.

(BMcC)