UK ISP Cuts Off Alleged Pirates
Written by Ernesto on July 24, 2009After having negotiated a deal with the entertainment industries, ISPs in the UK have agreed to send out warning letters to customers who are suspect of downloading copyrighted movies and music. However, one ISP has decided to take it one step further, by acutally disconnecting alleged copyright infringers.
Every day, tens of thousands of warning letters are sent out to ISPs on behalf of copyright holders. Some ISPs simply ignore them but the majority forwards the emails to their customers. However, the actions of the UK ISP Karoo in dealing with these requests are quite unique, and more far reaching than this.
Instead of notifying its customers that they have received a letter from a copyright holder, with the claim that their IP-address is associated with illegal downloading – Karoo customers are immediately disconnected without any prior warning. As we reported last year, Karoo doesn’t even allow users to have an open router.
Andrea Robinson is one of the Karoo customers who was accused of downloading illegally, Terminator Salvation in her case. She lost her Internet connection and the only option she has to get her Internet access reinstated is by signing a form sent to her by Karoo, which says she admits guilt.
“The form basically said ‘if I admit my guilt you’ll reconnect me’. So I didn’t sign it and walked out. I’m still not reconnected,” she told the BBC. With Karoo being the only ISP in her neighborhood she is now left with no Internet, and clueless what to do about it. According to the BBC she is not the only one, as there are similar cases at Karoo dating two years back.
In the United States there is one ISP that employs a similar strategy – Cox. When Cox receives a takedown request from a copyright holder, it will disconnect the customer associated with the IP-address, if they don’t admit to being guilty. If a customer receives three takedown requests their Internet is cut off entirely.
The real problem with Karoo and Cox’s methods lies in the fact that they act upon accusations made by anti-piracy organizations who employ evidence gathering methods that are shoddy, to say the least.
In the UK, the BBC consumer show Watchdog revealed how easy it is to point the finger (and pull the plug) on the wrong person. For Karoo this means that these wrongfully accused customers will lose their Internet access, unless they admit to an offense they were not involved in.
Since Karoo is the one and only Internet provider in the area, some will feel that they have no alternative, and they will sign the “guilty” form just to get back online. The anti-piracy groups must be proud of Karoo and their reckless tactics but the ISP should stop to consider the future. Monopolies don’t last forever and the Internet has a long memory.
Update: After today’s reports Karoo decided to change their policy. Instead of disconnecting alleged pirates directly, they will operate a a three strikes and you are out rule.
Previously: Streaming and BitTorrent Sports Links Site Declared Legal
Next: One in Three Is A Music Pirate
70 Responses
Looks like you shouldnt have Karoo as a service provider, she should just get a 3G thing for her laptop?
how can karoo be the ONLY broadband supplier for an area? as long as you have a BT phoneline you can get dsl from virtually anyone, surely? if not this is shocking.
“After having negotiated a deal with the entertainment industries”
You mean the cash the entertainment industry is gonna give to the ISP’s for making them do this?
@2
If you read the article it all becomes clear. You just have to read it. lol
Hull has an unique telecomms history. The local authority acquired a telephony license in 1902, with the authority-owned operating company floating as Kingston Communications in 1999. Karoo offers high-speed ADSL2+ lines that consistently top the speed ratings. However, since neither BT nor Virgin operate in the area, customers cannot switch to a local loop unbundled DSL provider – the choice is currently either Karoo or mobile broadband.
This is the opposite of being innocent until proven guilty. I don’t like it one bit. It’s a slippery slide and it will only get worse.
Anon, Hull is very unusual in that it’s one of the only parts of the UK that has no BT. It’s a historical thing, you can read about it on Wikipedia.
Basically, Karoo is the only ISP you can have, and Kingston Communications has an effective monopoly because it charges a lot to allow other ISPs access, and those companies don’t find the number of customers they can get especially attractive.
Seriously, if you live in Hull, you’re pretty much fucked.
from BBC site “British Telecoms has no lines in the area, and with no other choice of ISP, the residents of Hull often have no choice but to use Karoo if they want an internet connection.”.
put karroo in the dumpster theres no excuse for treating paying customers like this.
This is a prime example of why monopolys are a BAD thing.
if your a british citizen and are appauled by Karoos Monopoly sign this petition
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/hopppy2/
http://www.karoo.co.uk/
Their website; might sent them a nice email!
Any of you wikipedians want to add this nice story to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karoo_%28company%29 ?
it’s about time. $$$ rules, pirates and thieves drool.
We should start charging for access to air too. Monetize EVERYTHING NOW!!!
I am with Karoo and never had any real problems with them however after reading this article I too shall be cancelling my account and switching to another ISP.
I am sure more people will follow suite.
lol why would any moron downloading torrents subscribe to a well known anti-piracy ISP?
Good luck, Sez – you’ve obviously not read the article nor do you live in Hull, or you’d know there’s no other choice.
@15 I live on the out-scurts of East York. and am able to receive Sky Broadband; Which I will be switching to.
I’m wondering whether, if she’s really innocent, she could take legal action against the ISP for breach of contract or a violation of rights. The bottom line is that the ISP regarded her has guilty without proof, despite the normal presumption of innocence in most legal systems. IANAL, so I don’t know what she could do, but I hope there’s something.
Though, If she’s really guilty, then she’d be better off just admitting it.
Hmmm…time to use the anonymous option there LoL
karoo= filthy bloody toe rags
@18 Jul 24, 2009 at 17:57 by Lachlan Hunt:
That is more easy saying then doing it, think about it, if you have a rent, mortgage, kids and other bills would you expend money that was going to your security fund to sue anyone?
Different from multimillion dollar companies normal people don’t have that kind of money. Would they organize and maintain a collective fund to pay a solicitor to be stand by when the community needs it?
The Register is reporting that Karoo has relented and has changed its policy. A spokesman said: “It is evident that we have been exceeding the expectation of copyright owners…”
Its up to every customer who has another option to leave and go to another ISP. The only thing they will listen to is their own profits.
Corporations like this need to be burnt to the ground, they have no right to make deals on the side with the copyright nazi’s and get paid for it. I assume they recieved a large cash donation for their help. Fvckers. And on top of it run a monopoly in an area, just terrible
search Karoo Broadband on facebook and harrass them as much as possible(lots of support it seems)
http://www.karoo.co.uk/lifestyle/kn-customer-notice.aspx
get a seedbox and game over
Well, lets hope that anyone disconnected who is in an area where they can choose a different provider, does swap provider rather than giving into thins kind of corporate bullying.
And once again, it has been proved that copyrights are more important than human rights.
Check out btguard if you want to stay anonymous
Andrea Robinson is one of the Karoo customers who was accused of downloading illegally, Terminator Salvation in her case. She lost her Internet connection and the only option she has to get her Internet access reinstated is by signing a form sent to her by Karoo, which says she admits guilt.
With Karoo being the only ISP in her neighborhood she is now left with no Internet, and clueless what to do about it. According to the BBC she is not the only one, as there are similar cases at Karoo dating two years back.
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That a stupid woman, without character nor dignity.
Some time ago, My TV and internet cable provider began to charge much by their services; and the reason because this corporation did that was to the fact that they were the only provider in my area.
I decided immediately to cancel the contract with them. My indignation was high for being this corporation abusive and charging to me unjustified payments… I thought: I don’t care If I am without internet nor cable TV, my dignity as person is a lot more important than that.
In fact, I was around 3 months without internet nor cable TV and I didn’t die for that… LOL!!
Around 4 months later, a new cable company arrived to my zone offering very atractive prices and services, I contracted them and today I am happy… :-)
I really am convinced that ALL of these corporative abuses happen because the people allow it, and as an example, Andrea Robinson.
Andrea Robinson, you had many possibilities for treating with this issue; and not being a stupid sheep, as in this case that you submissively accepted to fall in the trap of the extortion.
For example, you should have done a scandal on the newspapers and public TV saying that Karoo is violating your legitimate right to freedom of speech and legitimate right of sharing information and culture with others… Period.
Andrea Robinson, you created a false precedent of guilty… that a poor sheep without character nor respect by yourself.
Ddos anyone?
@ 31 you just hit the nail on the head
http://pastebin.ca/1504844
Moral of the story, don’t live in hull.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/24/karoo_p2p_policy_change/
Dopey twats.. they caused a shitstorm and now have implemented the shitty 3 strikes law..
Wow, no alternatives available? Where the fsck is OFCOM?
i too had my internet disconected by karoo 2 years ago, and was basicley blackmailed into sighning a agreament that i wouldnt file share again. if it wasent for the step kids i would of told them to stick it. awfull speeds and poor customer service. thank god i dont live there anymore.
Seriously, if you live in Hull, you’re pretty much fucked.
I would have thought the internet was the least of your troubles if you live in Hell, sorry Hull. It is a shit hole anyway.
Guilty until you admit guilt. Epic fail.
Think you need to read the article.
http://www.hull24.com/ Uses Kingston Communications network but might have different policy.
Then again, having no internet would be the least of my worries if I lived in Hull :D
40–>@31 “Think you need to read the article.”
———–
I read and understood the article very carefully, believe me. I think that you were who didn’t understand nothing.
BTW, Which is your point?
“After having negotiated a deal with the entertainment industries, ISPs in the UK have agreed to send out warning letters to customers who are suspect of downloading copyrighted movies and music.”
When the hell did that come into effect?
No surprise there, seeing as the UK doesn’t really care about civil rights and stuff.
I’m sure their equivalent to the RIAA/MPAA wined and dined the execs and also bought their lawyers along to convince them to hate and distrust their customers.
It’s absolutely amazing that you’re guilty with proof or evidence, and you have no choice but to admit that you’re guilty.
I wonder why lawyers aren’t knocking on her door to challenge the ISP. Sounds slanderous to me.
If stuff like this keeps up in the UK there’ll actually be a justifiable reason to break out the Guy Fawkes masks.
bro story cool (:
‘Seriously, if you live in Hull, you’re pretty much fucked.
I would have thought the internet was the least of your troubles if you live in Hell, sorry Hull. It is a shit hole anyway’ – thanks for writing me off you tosser.
Anyway, yes Karoo really is the only ISP in Hull. Lots of people are moving to 3G dongles at the moment. OFCOM will not do anything as they just about operate within the monopoly rules. No other company (BT, Virgin etc) will come into the area as they would need to significantly develop and upgrade the network. So we are all a bit stuck.
Is there something like “ethics complaints” in the U.K.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/24/palin.ethics/index.html
It forced Palin out off her job LoL
No you didn’t because if you did you wouldn’t scorn the woman the way you did, she was a victim here and have no power over the circumstances or real options.
My point was that she stood up for herself, she has done exactly what you did. The fact that this has been reported by the BBC and then commented on by TF is because of Mrs Robinson protesting about Karoo’s policy.
Based on your english, i’m guessing you’re foreign, and should be more tentative about making scalding statements about people from places you may not fully understand.
I think this is a trap TF has graciously set for me ;P to blab again about wireless mesh networks (perhaps coupled with different/better carrier frequencies or spectrums). See ’spectrum reform’ and something like that.
A guy from Google was at a recent town hall discussion about “net neutrality” and responded rather intriguingly/positively about this issue I raised.
Community wireless mesh networks, including last-mile amps?
Spectrum reform and Community Wireless P2P?
The people’s ISP?
Recommend Googling the issue.
Who the hell are Karoo? never heard of them and nothing changes
they talk all this bullshit but you can still download etc they only do by reports which they have been doing for years and years….
“My prediction (2006 post)… is that gradually the internet will become TV. ISPs already provide massively asymmetric connection with far higher down than up speeds. The EULAs already prohibit you from serving content – eventually someone’ll start enforcing that. They’ll start refusing to relay traffic that might expose them to liability, such as p2p networks and usenet.
I also predict a return to BBS-like behavior based on wireless mesh networks…”
“Sounds like a great incentive to set up user based wireless mesh networks such as the one to be built into the One Laptop per Child boxes. With enough users / boxes caching and siphoning local and regional traffic away from them, the ISPs would have to start providing better service to compete. Competition, what a concept :-)”
Rest of Article/posts:
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/03/1525240
http://www.slyck.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48115
Internet service provider (ISP) Karoo, based in Hull, has changed its policy of suspending the service of users suspected of copyright violations.
The about face was made following a BBC story outlining the firm’s practice.
Karoo issued a statement on Friday, saying that it has been “exceeding the expectations of copyright owners”.
The firm will now adopt a “three strikes” rule, in which suspected file-sharers will receive three written warnings before action is taken.
“We have always taken a firm line on the alleged abuse of our internet connections,” said Nick Thompson, director of consumer and publishing services, in the statement. .
Now there is a hard copy of how the story’s first 4 paragraphs were and how they are now. :D They acted fast.
Power to the people
What happens if Karoo get’s accused three times?
….Makes me a really ashamed to be a Cox customer.
piracy is a freetard issue not a free speech issue and you have no legitimate right to break the law and take what doesn’t belong to you through file trafficking.
can TF give us the names of the other ISP’s aleged to have agreed to this please
time to name them all publicly, it reduces the article by generalizing
Can we pass a law that would make copyright regressive?
First year you have complete control over that work.
Second year your rights diminish and people can start streaming that content.
Third year not only the people can stream the content but they can use it to make their own videos.
LoL
What copyright holders don’t like it? Well I don’t like when people start talking about making me pay for streaming music and video inside my own house either LoL
hull is fucked any how
They also charge you a nice sum to get it reconnected. I think in my case it was about £60-70.
Guilty until proven innocent is how the law typically works, except when you are being accused by the MAFIAA
Looks like in this case it’s: innocent until you want to get reconnected again…
59:piracy is a freetard issue not a free speech issue and you have no legitimate right to break the law and take what doesn’t belong to you through file trafficking
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Filesharing (as any form of sharing) is not piracy. Sharing with others is a legitimate right; asshole.
This is really piracy:
http://torrentfreak.com/copyright-group-prosecuted-for-failing-to-pay-artists-090722/
59:piracy is a freetard issue not a free speech issue and you have no legitimate right to break the law and take what doesn’t belong to you through file trafficking
————–
Filesharing (as any form of sharing) is not piracy. Sharing with others is a legitimate right, idiot.
This is really piracy:
http://torrentfreak.com/copyright-group-prosecuted-for-failing-to-pay-artists-090722/
This is an unlawful act – it’s a breach of contracted terms with the customer. In any case, there’s a choice of ISP pretty much everywhere in the UK, so that part of the story is wrong. Even in remote areas there are choices of ISPs, because you can always go with a mobile (3G) connection.
I’d suggest a solicitors letter to the ISP whilst cancelling any direct debit payments (they’re the ones who breached the contract so you’re quite within your consumer rights to stop paying them) and looking for a mobile broadband solution.
nothing wrong with hull you cockheads
but karoo is shitty, there 56k still costs more than most other broadband providers!
And I should know!
UK is rubbish for internet anyway. I’m in Japan and have a 1 gig line, so suck my balls!
The woman in the example can’t really complain, the ISP had that rule for ages, if she breaks it she knows the consequences.
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the crime.
Perhaps someone should just scan for all the ips of the isp and send complaints about everyone, and then the isp would have to block everyone.
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