P2P alternatives will be popular if government cuts off broadband

Threatening to cut of the connection of illegal downloaders won't be an effective way of tackling online piracy, according to internet service provider TalkTalk. It's sure music fans will switch to alternative methods of accessing copyright-protected content for free if using P2P services means they may end up being disconnected.

New research conducted by the provider found government proposals set up to stop copyright infringement could end up being pointless as users use their savvy online skills to stay one step ahead of the game.

Eighty per cent of 18-34 year olds questioned in a survey of 2003 adults said they would simply switch to using undetectable downloading methods if legislation passed in the Digital Economy Bill made it too dangerous to rely on P2P.

If statistics in France are anything to go by, passing legislation for a three strikes and you're out scheme could end up actually increasing copyright infringement. In this country, a three strikes Hadopi law was introduced three months ago and since that time, online piracy has risen by 3 per cent.

Non-detectable, P2P alternatives are growing at a steady pace as the UK Government tries to come to a decision on how to tackle illegal filesharing in its Digital Economy Bill. Tools include applications which scan thousands of internet radio stations and download requested tracks as well as services which conceal users' IP addresses, meaning they can download without detection.

TalkTalk also warns if the Digital Economy Bill becomes law it will make it tempting for pirates to hack into other people's Wi-Fi connections in order to download content. The danger is, with this method becoming more popular, innocent people could end up being accused of copyright theft and may end up having their broadband connection cut off despite having done nothing wrong.

Self-confessed filesharers questioned in TalkTalk's survey admitted they wouldn't be inclined to pay for content legally if P2P services ended up being inaccessible. Out of those questioned, four in ten said they wouldn't pay for a single track they had already downloaded for free.

Explaining TalkTalk's position on P2P use Andrew Heaney, director of strategy and regulation, commented: "Over the past few years consumers have become used to accessing music and video content for free. We don't condone it or encourage it but this behaviour is embedded in a whole generation of music fans." Heaney continued: "It doesn't matter how many sites are blocked, how many families are snooped on or how many customers are disconnected, music fans who want to can and will get the content they want online for free."

TalkTalk has always been very vocal against the broadband disconnection proposals put forward in the Digital Economy Bill and firmly believes the the Bill creates "a new and unfair duty on broadband customers." It's given the warning the Government is asking users "to implement complex and expensive security measures on their connections to make it more difficult for their neighbours and others to use their connection for copyright infringement."

Earlier in the week, BT boss, Ian Livingston, also criticised plans to cut of P2P file-sharer's broadband.