Virgin, Universal Team on Music Service, Anti-Piracy

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2009 - 9:10am.

London - U.K. ISP Virgin Media (NASD: VMED) has partnered with Universal Music Group to launch an unlimited music download service, and more controversially has also agreed to work with the label to suspend the accounts of repeat file-swappers. The DRM-free service, expected to launch in the U.K. in the fall, will offer unlimited downloads for a monthly fee less than the cost of two CDs, according to published reports.

A cheaper tier will provide a set number of monthly downloads; both tiers will offer unlimited streaming.

The only label partner announced for the service thus far is Universal.

"In parallel, the two companies will be working together to protect Universal Music's intellectual property and drive a material reduction in the unauthorized distribution of its repertoire across Virgin Media's network," the companies said in a statement.

"This will involve implementing a range of different strategies to educate file sharers about online piracy and to raise awareness of legal alternatives. They include, as a last resort for persistent offenders, a temporary suspension of internet access."

A Virgin spokeswoman told ZDNet UK that the idea of suspending subscribers' accounts was still being hashed out, and that suspensions could last "as little as five minutes, an hour or a day."

Universal Music has reportedly contracted with Denmark-based DTecNet, which will monitor file-sharing networks and report the IP addresses of repeat infringers to Virgin.

Music Ally notes that the announcement comes a day before the U.K. government will issue its Digital Britain report, which is expected to detail collaboration between ISPs and record labels on curbing piracy.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/k6g5b (Virgin Media statement)

http://musically.com/cgi-bin/displayHTML.cgi?bulletin=759

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10264472-93.html