In a move that could also prove problematic for videogames pirates, six major internet service providers are helping music companies crack down on illegal file sharers.

The deal, which has been negotiated by the government, has seen BT, Virgin, Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse all sign up to impose sanctions on those illegally downloading music. The six ISPs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding put together by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform.

Warning letters will be sent out to offenders, with the BPI (formerly known as British Phonographic Industry) stating that hundreds of thousands of letters will be sent out in the first year of the scheme. If the letters are ignored, sanctions such as the slowing of their internet connections could be imposed.

The scheme will initially be rolled out over a three month trial period.

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI (which acts on behalf of the music industry) said, "All of the major ISPs in the UK now recognise they have a responsibility to deal with illegal file-sharers on their networks."

While games are not specifically being targeted at this time, if the scheme proves successful it's possible that illegal sharing of games could be covered by the scheme.

Without the support of ISPs, games companies have been forced to pursue legal action to clamp down on online piracy. A few weeks ago legal firm, Davenport Lyons, successfully prosecuted four alleged pirates who had illegally downloaded Topware's Dream Pinball 3D, but those in question had failed to appear in court. It has been suggested that pursuing legal action against file sharers is extremely difficult and not particularly effective. The support of ISPs could make clamping down on pirates without the rigmarole of legal action more effective.

SPOnG has contacted a representative of the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association to see whether it will try to get games included in the new scheme, but no comment was available at the time of press.

^{Source: BBC}