You know that feeling? You want to see the next episode of Lost, but you've to wait for another full week. As a true criminal you go upstairs and search the dark web for next week's series. In just a few seconds you start a download and with still three minutes to go you go to do kitchen to grap a cold beer. When you get back a feeling of horror comes to you and you drop your beer and popcorn...
Your are cut off from the Internet by your own government! Japanese companies are currently dreaming of this scenario and it all looks like they might have luck. Their idea is to cut off anyone who illegally downloads files... This could be the world's toughest measure against online piracy. Facing complaints from the music, movie and video-game industries four associations representing Japan's Internet service providers have agreed to take drastic action, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.
The newspaper brought this news last Saturday when they quoted several unnamed sources. These sources stated that the Internet service providers will start with e-mailing those who repeatedly made illegal copies of movies, albums and games. If these e-mails don't work the providers will cut off the customer's internet connection... There goes customer satisfaction!
Next month the company will start with a new panel involving groups representing copyright holders. Today the Japanese Internet Providers Association (JAIPA) officially released a draft version of the 'Bandwith control guidelines' for ISP's. If you can handle some Japanese, click here to read. With 1.75 million Japanese people using file-sharing software this could be a huge win for the troubled industries.
Countries like Sweden and France are working on similar measures and might do the same. What do you think? Will we be forced to buy legal products and pay the high price? What will you do?!
