Virgin Media & Universal Launch Unlimited Download Service, But…
ISP Virgin Media will begin offering a monthly subscription service that gives UK broadband
customers the ability both stream and download unlimited tracks from Universal Music's catalog . A
lower priced tier will offer streaming and a more limited number of downloads.
Downloaded music is portable and will be the users
to keep on any MP3 compatible device. Virgin is also negotiating with other major and independent labels and
publishers and anticipates a more complete catalog when the service is launches later this year.
But this juicy carrot comes with a fairly ugly stick. The two companies will also be "aworking together to protect
Universal Music's intellectual property and drive a material reduction
in the unauthorized distribution of its repertoire". This will involve implementing a range of strategies
to "educate file sharers about online piracy" and "raise awareness of
legal alternatives".
ANALYSIS:
As a last resort" persistent
offenders while get a temporary suspension of net access. But Virgin says no one will
be permanently disconnected and no monitoring or interception of customer traffic by Virgin Media will take place.
Not coincidentally, the announcement comes just a day before the much anticipated Digital
Britain Report which is expected to contain new measures that force ISPs to take tougher actions against illegal file sharers.
So it appears that both Virgin, who like other ISP's has been reluctant to shut off offenders and the labels who had been pushing for tougher enforcement. Music lovers could come out as winners too, but we won't know for sure until we see pricing and read the fine print.
Man, if I were living in England and my country’s ISPs were forced to enforce these rules because some businessmen refuse to change their business models… I’d migrate somewhere else.
Major’s really need to realize that they cannot fight file sharing. “Pirates” are already a step ahead of the majors. Embrace it or lose the game!
Bas…these businessmen ARE finally changing their business model. They will be making 1,000% less money per unit than they were used to getting on physical product. Or are you just upset because they haven’t adopted the “give Bas his product for free” model” yet?
OK, everybody wants music for free. Nobody gives a [beep] about musicians, composers, producers etc.
As a musician/composer I think that’s OK as long as I get food and a house and transportation for free too.