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<h4>[Any confirmations of this?]<br>
</h4>
<h4><a
href="https://torrentfreak.com/verizons-six-strikes-anti-piracy-measures-unveiled-130111/">Verizon’s
“Six Strikes” Anti-Piracy Measures Unveiled</a></h4>
</header>
<ul id="post-info">
<li class="author_dark icon"><a
href="https://torrentfreak.com/author/ernesto/"
title="Posts by Ernesto" rel="author">Ernesto</a></li>
<li class="date_dark icon">January 11, 2013</li>
<li class="comments_dark icon"><a
href="https://torrentfreak.com/verizons-six-strikes-anti-piracy-measures-unveiled-130111/#respond">https://torrentfreak.com/verizons-six-strikes-anti-piracy-measures-unveiled-130111/</a></li>
</ul>
<p>During the coming weeks the controversial “six-strikes”
anti-piracy system will kick off in the U.S. While none of the
participating ISPs have officially announced how they will
handle repeat infringers, TorrentFreak has obtained a copy of
Verizon’s full policy. Among other things, offenders will have
to watch a video about the consequences of online piracy,
before their speeds are reduced to 256kbps. Also worth
mentioning is that the copyright alert system will also apply
to business customers.</p>
<p><img alt="verizon"
src="cid:part4.01020501.03020501@gmail.com" align="right">In
2011 the MPAA and RIAA teamed up with five major Internet
providers in the United States to launch the Center for
Copyright Information (CCI).</p>
<p>The parties agreed to implement a system through which
subscribers are warned that their copyright infringements have
been monitored by rightsholders. After several warnings ISPs
may then take a variety of repressive measures against alleged
infringers.</p>
<p>After <a
href="http://torrentfreak.com/six-strikes-anti-piracy-plan-delayed-till-121128/">more
than a year of delays</a> the plan will officially roll out
in the first weeks of this year.</p>
<p>One of the ISPs taking part is Verizon. Previously, the ISP
made some remarks about the various punishments it would hand
out to subscribers but in common with other participating
providers the company has not yet announced the full details.
Today, we can do this for them.</p>
<p>TorrentFreak has obtained a complete overview of how
Verizon’s alert scheme will work and details of the mitigation
measures they intend to put in place. <a
href="http://torrentfreak.com/images/verizon-six-strikes.png">The
document</a> is stored on Verizon’s web server but due to
its placement is currently unfindable using Google.</p>
<center><img src="cid:part7.05030006.07000301@gmail.com"
alt="6-verizon" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-63084"
height="485" width="522"></center>
<p>When the IP-address of a Verizon customer is caught sharing
copyrighted works on BitTorrent, the responsible account
holder will first get two notification alerts. These inform
the customer about the alleged copyright infringements and
also explain how file-sharing software can be removed from
their computer.</p>
<p><strong>Alert 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“Are delivered by email and
automatic voicemail to the telephone number we have on file
for you. Notify you that one or more copyright owners have
reported that they believe your account has been involved in
possible copyright infringement activity.”</em></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“Provide a link to
information on how to check to see if file sharing software
is operating on your computer (and how to remove it) and
tell you where to find information on obtaining content
legally.”</em></p>
<p>If more infringements are found after the first two alerts
then the account holder is moved on to the acknowledgment
phase where “popups” appear on-screen. Customers will have to
acknowledge that they received the new alert and will be
instructed to watch a video about the consequences of online
piracy.</p>
<p><strong>Alert 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“Redirect your browser to a
special web page where you can review and acknowledge
receiving the alerts. Provide a short video about copyright
law and the consequences of copyright infringement.”</em></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“Require you to click on an
“acknowledgement” button before you will be able to freely
browse the Internet. Clicking the acknowledgement button
does not require you to admit that you or anyone else
actually engaged in any infringing activity, only that you
have received the alert.”</em></p>
<p>If the infringements continue after the fourth alert the
subscriber will move on to the mitigation phase. Here, the
customer can either ask for a review by the American
Arbitration Association or undergo a temporary speed reduction
to 256kbps.</p>
<p><strong>Alert 5 and 6</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>“Redirect your browser to a
special web page where you will be given several options.
You can: Agree to an immediate temporary (2 or 3 day)
reduction in the speed of your Internet access service to
256kbps (a little faster than typical dial-up speed); Agree
to the same temporary (2 or 3 day) speed reduction but delay
it for a period of 14 days; or Ask for a review of the
validity of your alerts by the American Arbitration
Association.”</em></p>
<p>If more infringements are found after the sixth alert
“nothing” will happen. The user will receive no more alerts
and can continue using his or her Internet connection at full
speed.</p>
<p>However – and this is not mentioned by Verizon – the MPAA and
RIAA may obtain the IP-addresses of such repeat infringers in
order to take legal action against them. While the ISPs will
not voluntarily share the name and address linked to the
IP-address, they can obtain a subpoena to demand this
information from the provider.</p>
<p>The potential for copyright holders to use the alert system
as solid evidence gathering for lawsuits remains one of the
most problematic aspects of the six-strikes scheme.</p>
<p>Finally, TorrentFreak also confirmed that the alerts outlined
above will also apply to business customers. This means that
coffee shops and other small businesses will have to be very
careful over who they allow on their company networks. It
could mean the end of free WiFi in many places.</p>
<p>Aside from Verizon we previously received some details on the
measures AT&T and Time Warner Cable will take.</p>
<p>Leaked AT&T documents showed that they will <a
href="https://torrentfreak.com/att-starts-six-strikes-anti-piracy-plan-next-month-will-block-websites-121012/">block
users’ access</a> to some of the most frequently-visited
websites on the Internet, until they complete a copyright
course. Time Warner Cable will <a
href="https://torrentfreak.com/verizon-will-reduce-speeds-of-repeated-bittorrent-pirates-121115/">temporarily
interrupt</a> people’s ability to browse the Internet.</p>
<p>It’s expected that the two remaining providers, Cablevison
and Comcast, will take similar measures. None of the ISPs will
permanently disconnect repeat infringers as part of the plan.</p>
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