In the latest step to combat illegal music downloads Internet Service Providers have said that parents will be informed if their teenagers are found to be downloading music illegally

Both the music industry and Internet Service Providers have been trying to combat the growing problems of illegal music downloads for some time, but with most families now enjoying the freedom and flexibility of broadband more and more youngsters have been engaging in this activity, severely impacting on profits for the music industry. With Internet Service Providers under threat of action from music giants many have now decided to take radical action to try and combat the problem.

According to a recent report six of the largest Internet Service Providers have revealed plans that could help to ease the problem. Under these new rules ISPs will write to the parents of teenagers who are found to be downloading music illegally, and have been file sharing illegally. It is thought that many parents may not even be aware that their children are engaging in these illegal online activities, and that this move could help to ease the problem.

Whilst plans are still being discussed at present, many parents could find that their access to the Internet is affected, and could even find themselves blacklisted. If warnings are ignored by the parents, online surveillance could even be brought in and Internet speeds could be cut, which would then make it difficult for large files to be downloaded.

The new regulations are being put together as a joint venture between the British Phonographic Industry, the communications regulator, Ofcom, and Internet Service Providers. With around six and a half million users engaging in illegal music downloads, the sale of CDs and music has slumped and the music industry is set to lose over a billion pounds in revenue over the next few years.