Virgin Media and the BPI (the British record industry's trade association) have announced an "education campaign" to help Virgin Media's broadband customers to download music legally. As part of the campaign, "informative letters" from both Virgin Media and the BPI will be sent to customers whom the BPI have identified as appearing to have used their accounts to distribute music illegally. Both letters will actually be sent by Virgin Media, without the customers' names or addresses being disclosed to the BPI. Virgin Media will also provide information about illegal downloads on its website. Virgin Media is thought to be the first internet service provider (ISP) to warn customers about illegal downloads in this way. The development will be welcomed by UK rights-holders, who have been in talks with ISPs regarding a voluntary scheme for cooperating in taking action on illegal file-sharing. In February 2008, the government threatened to introduce legislation on this issue if voluntary agreement was not reached (see Legal update, DCMS creative industries report includes threat to legislate on ISP action against illegal file-sharers). It will be interesting to see whether this move by Virgin Media is a precursor to any further cooperation with the BPI on illegal file-sharing, and whether any other ISPs become involved in similar campaigns.

Source: BPI press release, 6 June 2008.