Andre Yoskowitz
28 Jan 2009 15:43
Last month we reported that the RIAA was set to stop lawsuits, and would instead pressure ISPs to send warnings to alleged pirates eventually shutting down service to those that received three warnings.
According to sources talking to CNet, AT&T and Comcast appear to be the first ISPs to willingly join the RIAA's monitoring program and begin sending warnings to alleged pirates as the RIAA demands. After a few warnings, the ISPs will wither throttle the user's bandwidth or permanently disconnect them.
The agreements have not been signed yet, and the ISPs do still have time to withdraw, notes the sources. It appears the last speed bump before the contracts get signed is over compensation for the ISPs for customers who get their Internet taken away.
Four unnamed providers specifically noted that they were worried about being known collaborators with the RIAA, which would cause obvious customer defections and "negative press."
Comcast, AT&T and the RIAA declined comment.