Watch CBS News

Tech Watch: Crackdown On Illegal Downloading

(KCBS) - CNET is reporting that some of the nation's largest Internet service providers may soon start cracking down on people who illegally download copyrighted material.

"Apparently what's happening here is the major ISPs such as Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T, will start by sending you a letter that they have been notified by a copyright holder a movie studio or record label that you are sharing or trafficking in pirated content,"
CNET Editor-at-Large Brian Cooley describes. "If that doesn't get the situation resolved, then they might step up to throttling the amount of bandwidth you have on your Internet account or possibly even limiting the sites you can get to through the web on your home computer."

It's been tough for the recording and music industries to go after the millions of people who intentionally or inadvertently are trafficking in illegal copyright files, Cooley explains.

"This is more of a broad blanket approach that they can go after through the ISP as basically a leverage partner as opposed to filing suit against everyone."

The biggest issue is who decides what is trafficking? That will be something to watch, Cooley adds.

You can hear his Tech Watch report Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:50 P.M. on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.