Ofcom aims to tackle online piracy and inform consumers

Large broadband providers will be required to inform customers that their internet connection has been used for online piracy under new measures unveiled by Ofcom.

Published as part of the regulator's requirements under the Digital Economy Act, the code includes steps designed to give the public more information on copyright infringement and raise awareness of legal ways to access music, films and other content.

As well as contacting customers regarding reported copyright breaches, internet service providers (ISPs) must tell subscribers where they can find licensed content and how they can protect their networks from being used for piracy.

The code will initially only cover BT, Everything Everywhere, O2, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media, all of which have more than 400,000 fixed-line broadband customers.

These ISPs have already been forced through a High Court order to prevent their subscribers from accessing The Pirate Bay, one of the best known filesharing websites.

Claudio Pollack, director of Ofcom's consumer group, said: "These measures are designed to foster investment and innovation in the UK's creative industries, while ensuring internet users are treated fairly and given help to access lawful content."