The head of one of Britain"s biggest internet providers has criticised the music industry for demanding that he act against pirates. The trade body for UK music, the BPI, asked internet service providers to disconnect people who ignore requests to stop sharing music. But Charles Dunstone of Carphone Warehouse, which runs the TalkTalk broadband service, is refusing. He said it is not his job to be an internet policeman.
BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said that the music industry has been fighting a losing battle to prevent people from swapping songs for nothing on the internet. Mr Dunstone, whose TalkTalk broadband is Britain"s third biggest internet provider, said the demands are unreasonable and unworkable. He also said his firm will refuse to cooperate with the BPI, despite threats of legal action. But the BPI said internet firms need to educate their customers not to steal music.
It also claims that if they do not help with the fight against music piracy, then the government will bring in legislation to make them cooperate.