Virgin Media, which has a unit that provides Web service, will send out email letters to users warning them their accounts could be disconnected if they continue to download illegal music. It's the first public deal between an internet service provider and the music industry. Virgin is working with BPI in this campaign.
It seems what the strategy, over the 10-week period it's run, is to get the parents paying for the services to receive the letter educating them about the issue, which could be a real deterrent to their children illegally downloading music.
A Virgin spokesman said: "We want people to enjoy music online without infringing the rights of musicians and music companies. This campaign is about helping our customers understand how they can do this."
BPI, which represents the major music labels, is pushing for Internet companies to put into action a "three strikes and you're out" type of plan, which would result in loss of Web access to the abusers.
While the initial campaign won't threaten Virgin's customers with being disconnected, it would probably eventually end up with that if their isn't voluntary response to the intiative.
It is estimated there are about 6.5 million customers that abuse their accounts in this way that could be under threat of disconnection.
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