14 DAY TRIAL // The largest Internet service providers from the United States have entered an agreement with recording and film industry associations RIAA and MPAA to send copyright alerts to subscribers suspected of copyright infringement.
Under the new gradual response program, AT&T, Cablevision Systems, Comcast, Time Warner and Verizon will act on complaints received from the copyright holders and will warn their customers in a manner meant to engage and educate them.
For example, if a subscriber is at their first infringement they will receive an email warning them that their account has been used for content theft and informing them about the legal consequences of such actions.
If the behavior persists, the user is notified a second time with much of the same information, but in a clearer manner. ISPs can opt to skip this step and move directly to the next.
The third step involves alerts that are more interactive, such as click-through pop-ups displayed in the browser or landing pages. The subscribers are asked to acknowledge the receipt of these alerts.
Much like the second, the fourth alert is similar to the previous one. The alleged offender is asked again to acknowledge that they have been notified.
The fifth warning will be accompanied by measures to reduce the subscriber's ability to steal content. Depending on the ISP this might mean temporary bandwidth limitation or redirection to a landing page that asks users to contact and discuss the matter with the company.
The sixth alert is similar, but according to the Center for Copyright Information "very few subscribers who after having received multiple alerts, will persist (or allow others to persist) in the content theft."
The goal of this program is to discourage copyright theft by warning offenders that their actions are being recorded and could be used to initiate legal action against them.
Unlike the so-called three-strikes legislation introduced in other countries like France or New Zealand, the agreement does not force ISPs to terminate or suspend a subscriber's service.
However, companies can have such a policy in order to protect themselvesfrom the safe harbor provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Nevertheless, ISPs will not disable voice telephone service (including the ability to call 911), email, or any security or health service, like home security or medical monitoring.