Danish ISPs Refuse Demands to Disconnect File-Sharers

President of the Telecommunications Industry Association notes that copyright holders cannot accurately identify infringers only an IP address.

With many ISPs lining up around the world to curtail illegal file-sharing at the behest of copyright holders, the music industry in particular, it’s always refreshing to learn of those that refuse.

According to a report by Comon, Danish ISPs have refused a proposal by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) to voluntarily engage in any such “detection and monitoring activities.”

“The Internet must be protected as a credible media, where each citizen can feel comfortable with the certainty that he will be on an equal footing with other media, such as confidentiality of correspondence in the mail, etc,” said the Danish Telecommunications Industry Association in a statement. “The proposals that have been seen by others in the European debate, which have also been raised in Denmark – for example, to disconnect users or deny users Internet access – will counteract this objective, and is in no way proportionate to the situation.”

More importantly, they rightly note that it would in effect force them to act on behalf of selfish economic interests at the expense of individual freedom and communication.

Jens Ottosen, President of the Telecommunications Industry Association, rightly notes that the IFPI and other copyright holders are unable to accurately identify those engaged in illegal file-sharing. All they can identify is an IP address and not the actual infringer. As I’ve reported before, researchers have also been able to generate false DMCA notices for printers and (non-NAT) wireless access points proving the haphazard nature of the anti-piracy game. It’s a fact certainly not lost on Mr. Ottosen.

Additionally, with many using wireless routers these days its fairly easy to find unprotected connections which can be used for illegal file-sharing without the owners knowledge. Case in point, I reset my own router a week ago and forgot to properly secure it for several days. Lo and behold I received a letter from my ISP a few days ago informing me that my “…computer contains files that infringe copyrights of a third party.” The file in question is a show called “True Blood” on HBO that I had never even heard of until then. The file had to have been downloaded by somebody else while my router’s pants were down, but if copyright holders had their way it wouldn’t matter. I and my Internet connection would face the punishment.

With UK ISPs already agreeing to a voluntary crackdown on illegal file-sharing, the French govt edging ISPs towards a formal “three-strikes-and-your-out” policy, and the Canadian govt reportedly mulling the same for that country’s ISPs, it’s refreshing to learn that at least one country in the world has ISPs with some backbone and clear minded thinking. Sadly, both seem to be in such short supply these days.

If you recall, it was Danish ISP Tele 2 that also fought efforts by the IFPI to block BitTorrent tracker site The Pirate Bay. It pointed out that it should not be held liable for what content customers transmit over its networks and that it’s really a matter that needs to be sorted out between the IFPI and The Pirate Bay.

It’s a scary and slippery slope if ISPs are made to be gatekeepers of content on the Internet.

(via TF)

jared@zeropaid.com

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