PhonepayPlus to combat online copyright infringement

In the UK there has been a strong focus on combating websites that engage in illegal activities, such as unauthorised file sharing. Previously, we wrote about MasterCard, PayPal and Visa that work with the City of London Police and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) to ensure their payment services are not used by websites whose operations are based on copyright infringements. Now, illegal file sharing websites are counting on phone payment services as a replacement for the credit card facilities. However, a new approach to enforcement may well hinder them to do this successfully. 

PhonepayPlus, the body that regulates premium rate services in the UK, is going to cooperate with the City of London Police and,IFPI to proactively prevent online copyright infringement facilitated by premium rate services. Premium rate services are services and goods (such as music downloads) that consumers can buy by charging the costs to their phone bills.

The following procedure is envisaged: The IFPI or the London Police will inform PhonepayPlus of websites that offer unlicensed music with premium rate services. Then PhonepayPlus will inform the trade bodies that represent retailers that market phone paid services. These trade bodies will distribute the details to their members. This approach ensures phone-paid-service operators are aware of illegal activity by websites that may approach them to provide phone payment services. Later on, the details of the unlicensed services might be used as evidence for the police to prove criminal acts, such as illegal file sharing.

Reference: IFPI