Ofcom’s Digital Economy Act code supports three strikes

UK TELECOMS WATCHDOG Ofcom has published its guide to dealing with the Digital Economy Act and cemented its support for three strikes and you're out ISP policing.

Ofcom said that internet service providers (ISPs) must play a role in policing 'piracy' and will have to inform their customers if their connections are associated with downloading copyrighted material.

"These measures are designed to foster investment and innovation in the UK's creative industries, while ensuring internet users are treated fairly and given help to access lawful content," said Claudio Pollack, director of Ofcom's Consumer Group.

"Ofcom will oversee a fair appeals process, and also ensure that rights holders' investigations under the code are rigorous and transparent."

Ofcom expects that its approach will encourage people to download music and movies through legal channels and has offered its proposals for consultation.

It suggests that when ISPs are browbeating their customers about copyright infringement they could include advice on where they might legitimately download material and tips on securing their home connection, in case someone is using their network for nefarious purposes.

Letters can be sent out once a month it said, and if a user is sent three in a one year period they will be bought to the attention of rightsholders, who will be able to request information about them with a view to siccing some lawyers on them. Customers get 20 days to appeal copyright infringement notices.

The code will cover the UK's largest ISPs, those with more than 400,000 fixed broadband lines, including BT, Everything Everywhere, O2 and Virgin Media.

The Ofcom consultation closes on 26 July and the code, if accepted, could go into effect in 2014. µ