Winny copiers to be cut off from Internet

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080315TDY01305.htm

While it seems this article doesn't explicitly relate to ISPs in the US, there are some practical implications that can be seen out of this article. Since the Japanese ISPs have cut off connections to P2P programs, it seems that copyright laws have strengthened in that country.

At first it seems like it couldn't happen in the US... But think about it. We do have the RIAA, the MPAA, and even the BSA lobbying to Congress and spreading their influence to strengthen copyright laws. They even go after individuals who "promote" illegal file sharing. So if these lobbying and copyright-advocate groups get things their way, we might actually see ISPs in the US do the same thing as those Japanese ISPs are doing in their country.

In case you don't read the article and wonder how exactly can they discourage filesharers from distributing such files in case these individuals don't heed the ISPs' warnings, read below:

"According to the new agreement, copyright organizations would notify providers of Internet protocol addresses used by those who repeatedly make copies illegally, using special detection software. The providers would then send warning e-mails to the users based on the IP addresses of the computers used to connect to the Internet. If contacted users did not then stop their illegal copying, the providers would temporarily disconnect them from the Internet for a specified period of time or cancel their service-provision contracts."

This method is probably more effective than how RIAA sends cease and desist letters that demand monetary payments. This method invokes fear and actual impacts of their internet usage activities.