Government cracks down on illegal file-sharing

The government has warned that it will introduce legislation to prevent illegal file sharing unless ISPs take voluntary action by April 2009.

It will also introduce rules to protect intellectual property and promote broadband.

The government supports talks between ISPs and rights’ holders about tackling the problem of illegal file sharing, as part of a Department for Culture, Media and Sport action plan for the creative industries.

The scale of the problem of illegal file sharing was highlighted by a recent survey by moneysupermarket.com, which found that 17 per cent of people in Britain admit to illegally downloading content.

The Government’s action plan aims to educate people on the nature of intellectual property, and strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights through the ‘Fake Free London’ campaign.

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