Verizon, which has so far been reluctant to enforce the copyright concerns of outsiders, has decided to partner with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and smack the bottoms of its subscribers thought to be pirating music.

Verizon told CNET: “We recognize the importance of copyright and the need to enforce those copyrights. Without that enforcement, intellectual property won't be generated at all. At the same time, it's important for our customers to be assured that they won't have their privacy rights trampled."

Verizon’s involvement will be to forward letters from the RIAA to those suspected of illegal sharing of music. The subscriber will be warned their activity is illegal, to cease the activity, and to delete any illicit music files. Verizon, unlike AT&T, Comcast, and Cox Communications, will not threaten to interrupt or terminate service.

Verizon’s move shouldn’t come as a surprise. In 2005 Verizon, despite its aggressive public stance to protect subscriber privacy, exhibited few qualms in selling out some of those same subscribers, suspected of illegal file sharing, to Disney in return for the rights to transmit 12 of Disney’s TV channels on its broadband network. Apparently, Verizon’s moral high ground is easily eroded, when the price is right.

 

Image Credit: PaxArcana

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