Virgin Media: 'We Have No Plans to Disconnect Illegal File-Sharers

Denies recent reports that it plans to run a trial of the controversial three-strikes-and-your-out policy proposed by the British Phonographic Industry(BPI).

This past Monday I mentioned how Virgin Media was reportedly gearing up for a trial run of the controversial three strikes-and-your-out policy that terminates the internet connections of those accused of illegal file-sharing.

Now comes a report that there is no planned trial run after all and that Virgin Media in fact feels the policy is too draconian.

“There is no pilot in place," said a Virgin Media representative. "There are no details to confirm as we haven’t come to any sort of agreement with the BPI."

“The BPI wants the Government and ISPs to adopt the three-strikes system, we don’t want to go down to that level as it raises questions about privacy and funding.”

The trial was expected to begin in a few months.

In response to the denials of a pilot program by Virgin Media, a BPI spokesperson said “We can’t talk about the pilot and can’t give out details but we have outlined plans with Virgin and do have a dialogue with them. But there is no confirmation of a pilot.”

It's hard to determine who's telling the truth here, but with the British Govt. threatening legislation if ISPs refuse to begin disconnecting illegal file-sharers it's not too much of a stretch to presume Virgin Media has some sort of plans to test the feasibility of such an effort. It's either this or it may be mulling over whether to challenge the policy outright and fight efforts to turn it into a data cop for the entertainment industry.