AT&T to Launch Ambitious New Anti-Piracy Initiative

There’s a new anti-piracy sheriff on the block, it would appear. Rumors say that telecom giant AT&T plans to launch a new anti-piracy campaign. This is according to leaked internal documents obtained recently by TorrentFreak. Apparently, AT&T will be taking a “six strikes and you’re out” approach.

If subscribers are caught downloading content protected by intellectual copyright -- including videos, games and music -- they can expect to have access to frequently visited websites blocked. AT&T is apparently set to send out anti-piracy “rules” and notices to its subscribers on November 28. 


Image via Shutterstock

Customers whose accounts are repeatedly flagged for alleged copyright infringements will have their access to frequently visited websites blocked, until they complete an online copyright course. It’s expected that most other participating ISPs will start their versions of the anti-piracy plan on the same date.

The new antipiracy initiative is supposedly based on an agreement made last year between the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and  five major U.S. Internet providers. The program is called the Center for Copyright Information (CCI).

“In an effort to assist content owners with combating on-line piracy, AT&T will be sending alert e-mails to customers who are identified as having been downloading copyrighted content without authorization from the copyright owner,” reads the leaked document.

 “The reports are made by the content owners and are of IP-addresses that are associated with copyright infringing activities. AT&T will not share any personally identifiable information about its customers with content owners until authorized by the customer or required to do so by law.”