Advanced Television

Fox CEO wants Internet pirates cut-off

November 25, 2009

The chief executive of Fox Filmed Entertainment has said the US should join France in cutting off the Internet connection of users who repeatedly download copyright-protected films.

CEO Jim Gianopulos said Internet piracy is the single biggest threat to the film industry worldwide, and independent films are the hardest hit.

He said Internet service providers can track down subscribers whose IP address — the unique number assigned to every computer that connects to the Internet — has been spotted downloading films illegally and issue warnings.

Gianopulos said punishing repeat offenders would help create “a level playing field” for filmmakers. “If we can do that, it would be a big victory against piracy,” he said, cautioning that taking away the small percentage of profit many films make threatens the industry.

Categories: Articles, Broadband, Regulation