A set of leaked internal AT&T training documents obtained by TorrentFreak reveal that the Internet provider will start sending out anti-piracy warning notices to its subscribers on November 28. Customers whose accounts are repeatedly flagged for alleged copyright infringements will have their access to frequently visited websites blocked, until they complete an online copyright course. Its expected that most other participating ISPs will start their versions of the anti-piracy plan on the same date.
Ironic, isn't it? Users pay an ISP for contracted communications services, and the ISP provides free private policing and enforcement services on demand for special-interest groups who pay them... nothing. And please do realize, these enforcements have not been warranted by any court, established by any actual evidence found in possession of the user, or any other meaningful due-process event. (Full disclosure: I've not downloaded a solitary piece of copyrighted music, video, or pirated software in my life - paid or otherwise, nor do I intend to. I have zero interests in those areas. But I am responding to the sheer un-Constitutionality of turning user-paid, contracted service providers into free private police agencies, judges, and juries based purely on simple accusation or circumstantial evidence... all with the tacit or explicit approval of legislatures and the US legal system.)
Ironic, isn't it? Users pay an ISP for contracted communications services, and the ISP provides free private policing and enforcement services on demand for special-interest groups who pay them... nothing.
Users paying for FiOS, Prism, U-verse, Xfinity, and whatever other slick bundling market name is out there, are not paying for just communications services. MSOs, like Comcast, Cox, SuddenLink, and TWC/RR are first, and foremost, content delivery services, and are beholden to content providers. And telcos, such as AT&T (U-verse), CenturyLink (Prism), and Verizon (FiOS) have joined the ranks of content delivery services, and, thus, also beholden to the content providers. They have to act favorably to the MPAA/RIAA if they want content to deliver; they have to protect the content revenue stream.
And please do realize, these enforcements have not been warranted by any court, established by any actual evidence found in possession of the user, or any other meaningful due-process event. ... But I am responding to the sheer un-Constitutionality of turning user-paid, contracted service providers into free private police agencies, judges, and juries based purely on simple accusation or circumstantial evidence... all with the tacit or explicit approval of legislatures and the US legal system.)
You are not talking about state sanctions against citizens, which is the purview of the U.S. Constitution. This comes down to contract law, and the rights and responsibilities of the parties to contracts.
the ISPs are playing Piracy Police not just because they have become or already where cable companies but also because they know if they did not agree to six strikes that the MAFIAA would lobby something far more costly for them to setup into law.
and if all the major ISPs stood together and said no? You think they would pull their content from every major wireline provider? They'd have no ad revenue and it would be a disaster for them.
Any policing never was, is or will be free. I guess it's obvious, that it takes money to do the job. But MAFIAA envision of this world this way - you have to pay money for policing (even if you don't want to deal with them or hear about them at all) and they get their profits from that... Very clever, don't you think?
MAFIAA is corrupting this country, paying lobbyists to make new laws in their behalf and making everyone around to pay for their profits... And they are allowed to do so only because people don't see it. But that's how the mafia works.
That is the problem, though; all the "major ISPs" aren't in the ISP business, they are in the entertainment business. There is nothing like a 30% profit margin in wireline communications. You want the big profit margin? Forget farming, retail, and wireline communications. The big money is in law, medicine, and entertainment (including sports).