14 DAY TRIAL // There have been several proposed solutions to piracy in Europe and none of them have been met with too much enthusiasm either from users or experts. A “three strikes” system has been talked about and even introduced in France but the UK government said recently that it had “all but ruled [it] out,” opting instead for other “technical solutions.”
The “three strikes” system would give users caught sharing illegal content three chances after which their ISP would disconnect them. This however was not the UK government's “preferred solution,” as culture secretary Andy Brunham stated at a music industry conference. Instead they are looking at alternatives, but no clear one has been chosen and officials are still evaluating all the options.
According to the BBC, a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said that Internet access was as crucial as utilities like water and electricity and as such could not be denied outright.
"The Digital Britain report coming out soon will build on last year's Memorandum of Understanding between content holders and ISPs to tackle illegal file sharing," the spokesman said. "It is likely to include an obligation on ISPs to send out letters to people who are infringing copyright," he added. "What Mr. Burnham also said was there was the likelihood that the MoU would be backed up by new powers for Ofcom to impose 'technical solutions' for repeat offenders if that process of sending out letters was not effective enough."
This conclusion is expected to be published in the final Digital Britain report, which will be available on June 16, and should give a much clearer view of what measures the UK plans to introduce. Although details about how exactly the “technical solutions” would work are still lacking, they will apparently limit or restrict file sharing activity for those who are caught.