ISP's Support Copyright Fight to Safeguard Broadband

You might be one of those asking the question, "Will the internet providers in my area join the copyright fight on the side of the users or the corporations?" If so, then you are one of millions of people who are faced with the possibility of living with waning net neutrality and the growing likelihood of online site blocking and censorship. It seems that pressure from big business and lobby groups will ensure that individuals are punished for perpetrating online activities which are deemed inappropriate because of perceived breaches of copyright. This could mean that people are left without web access for a whole variety of reasons and is making some people very nervous about what the landscape of the internet might look like in the future.

In mid-2011, a new set of measures was introduced and agreed to by major US internet service providers (ISPs), including the likes of Comcast and Verizon. Known as the Copyright Alert System, the measures give ISPs the chance to get in contact with users who have been detected as using pirate material and essentially send them cease-and-desist requests which, if they go unacknowledged, could result in accounts being terminated and users' web access consequently suspended.

Under the new rules, there will be a system of six strikes that will, over time, cause the user to be barred from accessing the web. It essentially amounts to internet providers in my area getting in touch with users via email to alert them to the fact that they have been caught downloading or sharing copyrighted content. If the user does not acknowledge the correspondence and continues their illegal activities, the ISP will have the right to throttle their connection, block certain websites and eventually cut off the service completely if stage six of the strike system is reached.

It is significant that there is no specific measure that forces ISPs to remove certain users from the service, but it is suggested that the companies who own the copyrights for the content which has been illegally accessed might be able to step in and force the issue. If a user wants to escape punishment further down the list of strikes, then they will need to pay to initiate a process of review which could reverse the rulings. The only alternative is to take your ISP to court, which will of course generate more fees related to legal costs.

Of course, with a six-strike system it is not difficult to argue that people identified as pirates will be given more than enough opportunity to mend their ways and halt the activities which are perceived to be illegal. However, it is important to note that the efforts to combat copyright infringement will be far broader than simply targeting people who deliberately and knowingly download movies, games and music from file-sharing sites.

The ISPs are essentially being given the right to shut down the connections of people who upload videos which may contain copyrighted material to YouTube or other sites. This could include a video of your kids dancing to a Lady Gaga song at a birthday party, or a satirical clip which you have carefully constructed using portions of existing movies.

The long and the short of the argument is that ISPs are being cajoled by the government and industry bodies into clamping down on copyright infringement and content theft in a way that might be perceived as draconian. Some would claim that web access is a basic human right that should not be denied, while others would point out that most people do not understand the specifics of fair-use policies and copyright laws, thus putting them in a position from which they cannot fight back should their ISP contact them about an alleged infringement.

It appears as if matters are going to get more complicated, with measures like the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) attracting a lot of attention from campaigners who are concerned that it will be used against more than just websites dedicated to piracy. While protecting the intellectual property of copyright owners is important, ISPs also need to look out for their customers.

About the Author:

Shirley Jones is a freelance content writer and she writes articles and blogs on Internet providers in my area and other internet service related technologies.

With iCloud, Apple plans to revolutionize the pressure on ISPs

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide companies and individuals with internet access as well as additional services such as website hosting and website building. In order to provide a high level of service to customers, some ISPs have their own high-speed lines which provide a faster and more efficient service.

However, as internet access and usage grows, develops and becomes a larger part of the way we live our lives, there is increasing pressure for even faster download times and more access to greater amounts of internet data.

Why so much growth?

Over the last decade, the internet has become more than just a research tool. It has become an almost instantaneous way to connect and share photos and messages with friends and family; even those living far apart can now see as well as talk to each other. It also provides great opportunities for businesses looking to advertise and expand.

The internet has created new jobs in areas such as digital media and website and games design. The online games industry has been a huge success and it is constantly evolving and pushing interactivity further and further. With so much data being handled and shared by ISPs, it's no wonder something had to be developed to meet the immense demands.

Coping with demand

The public said that they wanted more and the industry responded. The result was a solution called cloud computing, which has led to less pressure being placed on ISPs. Cloud computing is essentially a means of enabling companies and businesses to develop applications and supply them to clients and customers via the internet.

Using web browsers and mobile apps, data and software can be accessed by individual users but is held and stored on servers owned by larger companies. This single point of access means less hassle and on-demand access to large amounts of data.

Cloud on the move

For those that need this type of service on the go, a wifi dongle for internet access and storage space may well be useful. However, this option can prove problematic for larger downloads and won't provide the same level of integration between mobile devices as cloud hosting.

Where a wifi dongle stutters, Mobile Cloud forges ahead, enabling users to locate data from remote servers from a range of mobile operating systems. Whether the data is games related, educational, health based or concerned with business or marketing, cloud computing enables smaller systems to cope with graphics, large documents and moving images.

Apple responds to 'on-the-go' demand

Of course, Apple is well known for responding to both their product users and developments in the market and as a result they have developed iCloud. With this development, they have efficiently and effectively ensured that their customers can access data wherever and whenever they want.

However, this is not just about accessing and storing large quantities of data, this is a service that enables access from an iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, or any portable or home computer. With iCloud, music, apps, photos and games on any device can be accessed at any time and any changes to this data will be updated throughout each device. No syncing is required and no intricate management of data is needed.

The iCloud revolution

With all this available at the touch of a button, iCloud is a huge step forward for the fast and furious pace of modern life. Not only will individual users benefit from such a development, iCloud means that ISPs need not be the only or best option for businesses either.