Rightscorp Pushing ISPs To Disconnect Repeat Infringers 92
Torrentfreak acquired slides from the Anti-Piracy and Content Protection Summit indicating that Rightscorp wants ISPs to disconnect repeat copyright infringers, and that 140 small ISPs are already doing so. From the article: Christopher Sabec, CEO of Rightscorp, says that they have been in talks with various Internet providers urging them to step up their game. Thus far a total of 140 ISPs are indeed following this disconnection principle. ... By introducing disconnections Rightcorp hopes to claim more settlements to increase the company’s revenue stream. They offer participating ISPs a tool to keep track of the number of warnings each customer receives, and the providers are encouraged to reconnect the subscribers if the outstanding bills have been paid. ... Cutting off repeat infringers is also in the best interests of ISPs according to Rightscorp, who note that it is a requirement for all providers if they are to maintain their DMCA safe harbor.
The presentation slides seem to indicate that Rightscorp is planning to go after the safe harbor protections that ISPs are given under the DMCA in order to force the issue.
Ya right (Score:5, Informative)
I used to work DMCA requests for a moderately large ISP. They are NOT disconnecting people for repeat abuse. They would never disconnect you because some 3rd party doesn't like what your using your connection for. You're a paying customer, and the rights hold is not. There is no financial incentive for them to disconnect you.
They will disconnect you if you're costing them money however. But for an ISP, that's a difficult thing to do. There are laws, and franchise agreements with the city. They're pretty much required to give you service, even if you cost them money... unless they can find an excuse to disconnect you. Like if you were a software pirate.
The moral of the story? If you live in an upscale apartment complex, where everyones got 1gig fiber connections, you're never getting disconnected. EVER. If you're 10 miles outside of town in a sparsely populated area with old decaying lines that the ISP has to constantly come out and repair, and every time you start up your torrent client the entire neighborhoods network crawls to a halt, it may be in your best interest to avoid doing things that would give your ISP and excuse to boot you.
Notice how they said a bunch of small rural ISPs were the only ones who'd started doing this. Yea, this has nothing to do with piracy and everything to do with getting rid of customers that are costing them money.