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Verizon's 'Six Strikes' Anti-Piracy Program Details Leaked
Repeat Offenders to Be Throttled Back to 256 kbps
by Karl Bode Friday 11-Jan-2013 tags: Fiber · business · bandwidth · Verizon FiOS · Verizon Online DSL
With the entertainment industry's oft-delayed "six strikes" anti-piracy plan finally very close to launch, some ISPs have been willing to talk a little about the new steps they'll be taking to thwart pirates on their networks. Time Warner Cable gave us the details on their plan last November, including on-screen click-through warnings and the pushing of "educational" anti-piracy materials. Verizon offered less detail, telling us six strikes wouldn't apply to LTE, but would involve throttling FiOS and DSL subscribers.

Verizon however had refused to get specific about the plan, though trying to hide those details hasn't worked out. With the plan just weeks away, Torrent Freak managed to find a copy of Verizon's plan on their website. Like Time Warner Cable, Verizon will display a click-through warning on repeat offenders' screens and require they acknowledge the receipt of entertainment industry materials.

Click for full size
Unlike Time Warner Cable, Verizon will be throttling repeat offenders back to 256 kbps after the fourth and fifth alerts. From the plan's description of what happens after your fifth warning:

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."

To challenge the accusation you need to pay $35, the assumption of guilt and the requirement to pay a fee to contest accusations being only a few of the problems with the plan. As with other ISPs, nothing happens to users after the sixth strike, and most savvy pirates will have started using VPNs or BitTorrent proxy services some time ago. As a result these plans are much more about scaring most users away from piracy, as opposed to accomplishing the impossible task of trying to completely stop piracy on ISP networks.

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saneblane

@199.192.224.x

Is this some kind of joke?

Verizon could care less about piracy, but they would use any excuse not to upgrade their network. And how in the hell are they going to find these so called pirates?. Next thing you know, when you go over a certain usage that they deemed is acceptable, you are going to be branded a "pirate".Every time I think this country can't sink any lower, it does.
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Verizon (or any other MSO) doesnt care about piracy when it erodes their TV revenues? Wake up.

saneblane

@199.192.224.x

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

What revenue is piracy harming for Verizon?
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

TV !

MovieLover76

join:2009-09-11
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
·DIRECTV
·Optimum Online
·Cablevision

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

It may be slightly problematic, but not as much as you think.
With the crazy pricing structures and promotional plans, tv doesn't cost much more when compared to only subscribing to internet service. It's only $30 more for me to get the full triple play with a whole home dvr and a hd box.

I have their phone service mostly because if you downgrade to the double play and forget phone, it actually costs $10 more because I lose all of my dvr and box savings. their plans are designed to make you get the triple play and if you get internet only your suffering with a much less convenient tv watching experience compared to piracy and their still getting most of the money as internet by itself is extremely expensive as a stand alone product.
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Promotions are temporary. What % of cable TV customers do you believe are in promotions? They make their money when promotions are up.

MovieLover76

join:2009-09-11
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
·DIRECTV
·Optimum Online
·Cablevision

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

None of the smart ones lol (just joking), I switch back and forth, or threaten to and get another promotion every time my promotion is up If you don't have alternatives to threaten to leave for it's a different story.

But you have a point most tv subscribers probably are not on a promotion.
Skippy25

join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO
So what you are implying is that people that pirate do so to avoid not paying to watch something. Can you provide proof that those same people would pay to watch the same stuff if it were 100% impossible to get through other means thus making it erode their TV revenues?

In other words, pirates != people that would pay if they had no other options. As a matter of fact, I believe there have been a few things posted that show "pirates" actually spend more money on the things they are accused of pirating than the non-pirates.
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Look man, I have an Uncle who pirates everything under the sun and cut his TV subscription. Thats one less video customer for Cablevision, and its all the proof I need to back my theory that piracy causes less revenue for the MSO's
Skippy25

join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

And my aunts friend has a sister who knows someone that lives down the street that pirates everything under the sun and never had and never will have a TV subscription.
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

It doesnt matter one bit. My conclusive evidence that ONE CUSTOMER "cut the cord" directly because of pirating proves my statement that piracy erodes profits for the MSO's.

FURTHERMORE, Piracy leads to increased carriage fees in which the MSO's have to pay the stations ! Which leads to even more lost customers, and lost revenue.

now keep on skippin'

cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

said by ITALIAN926:

It doesnt matter one bit. My conclusive evidence that ONE CUSTOMER "cut the cord" directly because of pirating proves my statement that piracy erodes profits for the MSO's.

But if the pirate pays for a $200 broadband package instead of a $50 broadband package and a $100 TV package, is the MSO losing money or profiting on the pirate?
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

He's not
gruntlord6

join:2010-06-10
Barrie, ON

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

said by ITALIAN926:

He's not

You lose all credibility when you refuse to back your arguments.
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

quote:
You lose all credibility when you refuse to back your arguments.
What the hell are you talking about? United States Laws back my arguments. Stop breaking the law and we wont be having this discussion. There is nothing special about YOU that makes YOU exempt from rules the rest of us follow.
Understand now?
Trencher

join:2007-02-12
Etobicoke, ON
*SUPER MEGA LIKE* lol... You hit the nail on the head!

NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9

1 edit
said by ITALIAN926:

It doesnt matter one bit. My conclusive evidence that ONE CUSTOMER "cut the cord" directly because of pirating proves my statement that piracy erodes profits for the MSO's.

So how much profit erosion am I causing by not paying for cable/satellite service? And do beware of your assumptions.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum

The Limit
Premium
join:2007-09-25
Greensboro, NC
kudos:2
Oh I see. No hard evidence just OMG THIS GUY I KNOW DOES THIS argument.

Burden of proof is on you. Try again.
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

1 edit

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

quote:
Oh I see. No hard evidence just OMG THIS GUY I KNOW DOES THIS argument.

Burden of proof is on you. Try again.
WTF are you talking about? Pirating has caused the cable industry to lose about $50 a month (for basic) due to my UNCLE, and his lack of morals. What kind of evidence would you like, for me to turn him in and get a police report? ONE MAN out of MILLIONS COPYRIGHT INFRINGERS having an impact on the MSO's and entertainment industry. Have you even an ounce of common sense? Even if he was the ONLY ONE DOING IT, ITS STILL EVIDENCE OF LOST REVENUE.
Trencher

join:2007-02-12
Etobicoke, ON

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Did he raise his internet speed? I pirate all the time.. but I also spend about $3000 a year on video games and movies... I go to the movie theater often... I also have a TV provider... but as I say.. I pirate all the time...
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Wow, I spend about $5000 a year in gasoline, thanks for telling me that logically I should be able to fill up and run off without paying; on occasion. I'll use your logic as my defense when I get caught.
gruntlord6

join:2010-06-10
Barrie, ON

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

said by ITALIAN926:

Wow, I spend about $5000 a year in gasoline, thanks for telling me that logically I should be able to fill up and run off without paying; on occasion. I'll use your logic as my defense when I get caught.

None of that was related to the discussion. You are an idiot
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Its absolutely related, and if you cant correlate the two scenarios , YOU are the idiot.

BF69
Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
said by Skippy25:

So what you are implying is that people that pirate do so to avoid not paying to watch something. Can you provide proof that those same people would pay to watch the same stuff if it were 100% impossible to get through other means thus making it erode their TV revenues?

So because one refuses to pay for something they are entitled to it anyways? It doesn't matter if no one is losing a dime. If you are supposed to pay for something and you don't want to then you are not entitled to it. If I don't want to pay $8 to see a movie that does not give me a right to sneak into the theater.
Trencher

join:2007-02-12
Etobicoke, ON

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

If I download a movie that I had no intention of watching if I hadn't downloaded it... was it really a lost sale?

BF69
Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

That's not the point. If I sneak into an empty theater to see a movie I had no intention on paying for anyway am I costing the theater anything? Nope. Is it right to do? Nope. Why should my lack of wanting to pay still entitle me to see the movie? Same thing with downloading. If you are supposed to pay and you don't want to then you don't get to see the content, PERIOD. Doesn't matter if it's costing the profit or not.
Trencher

join:2007-02-12
Etobicoke, ON

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Slight problem with your analogy... If you go to a theatre and the movies sold out and you sneak in.. Taking a paying customers seat from them then yes you ripped off the theater... If you go and sit in the movie and there are 50 seats free then in reality you didn't steal anything at all and may have actually made the theater some money if you bought a drink.

My point was I'm not technically taking anything away from the ppl who made the film if I download it and watch something I never planned on paying for in the 1st place... If I like it I may even go out and buy the Blu-ray or tell a friend about it which may make another sale... Piracy isn't all about "stealing". If it wasn't for tape trading in the 80s Metallica would never of blown up as big as they did... Which is why fans backlashed at the whole napster thing.
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

You have got to be kidding. Is this really how pirates think and justify what they do. Absolutely hysterical.
Trencher

join:2007-02-12
Etobicoke, ON

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Digital socialism... Isn't it grand!?

Do you work in the industry or do you just like the smell of your own farts?
Trencher

join:2007-02-12
Etobicoke, ON
Facts tend to lean in my favor... Us "pirates" spend more money in the entertainment/digital industry then those who don't.
serge87

join:2009-11-29
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

said by Trencher:

Facts tend to lean in my favor... Us "pirates" spend more money in the entertainment/digital industry then those who don't.

QFT!

I know he probably won't respond to this post but here's some good reading:

Dear RIAA: Pirates Buy More. Full Stop. Deal With It.

Another Day, Another Study That Says 'Pirates' Are The Best Customers... This Time From HADOPI

Music pirates spend more on music than their legal, law-abiding brethren

Go Figure: UK movie pirates spend more at the box office than non-pirates

Interesting how that works out
serge87

join:2009-11-29
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

said by ITALIAN926:

quote:
QFT!

I know he probably won't respond to this post but here's some good reading:

The whole "pirates spend more" BS is hillarious. I have like 2000 DVD's and CD's in my collections, if I was like YOU, Id have a tiny percentage of them, if any at all. If the RIAA and MPAA thew in the towel, and all copyright laws were reversed, you make it sound as if this would increase their profits ! lol omg.

I know for the sake of morals, when pirates download an entire Season of Dexter, and like it, they then go out and buy the real thing, not burn their own copy, right? LOL. Not that "liking it" has anything in the world to do with it.

The most Righteous breed of humans in this world are Copyright Infringers, thanks for clearing that up.

I'm not sure where you're getting these conclusions from. I don't watch TV and any movies I want to see(very rarely, hollywood = narcissistic garbage) I go see in theaters, just a couple times a year. My 300Mbps FIOS connection is 99% full 24/7/365, 100% legally so even if I had a reason to download something illegally I wouldn't have enough bandwidth left over LOL.

Try again?
Trencher

join:2007-02-12
Etobicoke, ON
Ok so you do love the smell of your own farts... Gotcha..

Well then it must of sucked for you when netflix came about eh? Suddenly someone could have access to 100s if not 1000s of movies and tv shows all for $7 a month... Kinda makes your 2000 DVD collection a bit of a waste of space huh? Not mention a waste of money!
serge87

join:2009-11-29
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

said by Trencher:

Ok so you do love the smell of your own farts... Gotcha..

Well then it must of sucked for you when netflix came about eh? Suddenly someone could have access to 100s if not 1000s of movies and tv shows all for $7 a month... Kinda makes your 2000 DVD collection a bit of a waste of space huh? Not mention a waste of money!

I always say that technology will continue to progress dragging those types kicking and screaming into the future whether they like it or not...they still have to right to complain however LOL
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
Actually I tried Netflix, I dropped it after a month because their HD content sucked, and their selection was very limited overall. From what I heard that was the fault of Starz, I dont know how their HD is now, and I dont care to find out. Oh, and Netflix doesnt have all the movies I own.

Have I voiced any opposition to Netflix? Keep to the subject of piracy.

BF69
Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
said by Trencher:

Slight problem with your analogy... If you go to a theatre and the movies sold out and you sneak in.. Taking a paying customers seat from them then yes you ripped off the theater... If you go and sit in the movie and there are 50 seats free then in reality you didn't steal anything at all and may have actually made the theater some money if you bought a drink.

My analogy CLEARLY stated the theater wasn't full. An apparently you justified me breaking the law.
Trencher

join:2007-02-12
Etobicoke, ON
What's the point of making something if no one goes to see it... If someone makes a film and no ones willing to pay to see it, was it really worth making? Film is an art to be enjoyed... Some pieces of Art you want to own to keep for yourself and others you just admire and enjoy. Did the person who just admired it from afar just "steal" that art because they didn't pay to look at it? Or did the artist do what he intended and be seen by as many people as possible.

As an ex film maker I like to think I made movies for the art and not the paycheck.

See 6 replies to this post

The Limit
Premium
join:2007-09-25
Greensboro, NC
kudos:2
Yea, about those "lost" profits. Please provide some evidence of that, otherwise it's all bologna.
serge87

join:2009-11-29
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

said by The Limit:

Yea, about those "lost" profits. Please provide some evidence of that, otherwise it's all bologna.

Hope you like anecdotes because I smell one coming
Angrychair

join:2000-09-20
Jacksonville, FL
said by saneblane :

Verizon could care less about piracy

Really? Just curious, but how much less?

See 17 replies to this post

gaforces
United We Stand, Divided We Fall

join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

Much lawsuites incoming

Many internet connections are shared which will punish innocent people.
The fee is ridiculous, let riaa and mpaa pay for thier own kangaroo court.
--
Let them eat FIBER!
silbaco

join:2009-08-03
USA

Re: Much lawsuites incoming

Shouldn't share your connection. It is against the terms anyway.

MxxCon

join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY
Whoever pays the bill is fully responsible for what happens on their connection.
--
[Sig removed by Administrator: signature can not exceed 20GB]
ITALIAN926

join:2003-08-16
kudos:1

LMAO

Thottled to 256k?? Awwww, the leeches will have to WAIT for their shows and movies. Boo Hoo.
serge87

join:2009-11-29
Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS

Re: LMAO

said by ITALIAN926:

Thottled to 256k?? Awwww, the leeches will have to WAIT for their shows and movies. Boo Hoo.

Torrents are for the uneducated huddled masses. Full-speed Usenet is infinitely superior, period.
silbaco

join:2009-08-03
USA

Considering..

Could be worse. Could be 3 strikes and you are out like Mediacom. For life.

See 7 replies to this post
brianiscool

join:2000-08-16
Tampa, FL
kudos:1

Simple Fix!

TOR

workablob

join:2004-06-09
Houston, TX
kudos:1

Re: Simple Fix!

BTGuard. It's not free but considering the benefit it pays for itself after the first few torrents.

I love it.

Dave
--
I may have been born yesterday. But it wasn't at night.

jjoshua
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
kudos:3

Punished by Verizon?

I need to pay Verizon $60 per month to be punished by them? Screw that.

BF69
Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

Re: Punished by Verizon?

said by jjoshua:

I need to pay Verizon $60 per month to be punished by them? Screw that.

You're not punished if you're not doing anything wrong.

nothing00

join:2001-06-10
Centereach, NY

Re: Punished by Verizon?

Really? It didn't cost Verizon anything to implement this?
gruntlord6

join:2010-06-10
Barrie, ON
said by BF69:

said by jjoshua:

I need to pay Verizon $60 per month to be punished by them? Screw that.

You're not punished if you're not doing anything wrong.

Because verizon's billing department has proved they do not easily make mistakes.

NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9
said by BF69:

said by jjoshua:

I need to pay Verizon $60 per month to be punished by them? Screw that.

You're not punished if you're not doing anything wrong.

And I have a slightly used, 75+-year-old suspension bridge for sale.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum

keef

@verizon.net

Contract Change?

I don't pirate stuff, but does anyone know if this will make Verizon change their contract terms with customers (as in customers having to re-commit or reject the contract changes)?
Angrychair

join:2000-09-20
Jacksonville, FL
Reviews:
·Comcast

Re: Contract Change?

said by keef :

I don't pirate stuff, but does anyone know if this will make Verizon change their contract terms with customers (as in customers having to re-commit or reject the contract changes)?

Awww, that's sweet. You think that you have any sort of recourse besides cancelling your monopoly service provider.

Just so you know, I can't ever recall a terms of use agreement that didn't allow them to simply change it on their own whim whenever they felt like it with no need for your consent.
Skippy25

join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Re: Contract Change?

I think you are confused. They can change anytime they want, but they ALWAYS have to inform you and you ALWAYS have to agree to it.

TSF

@comcastbusiness.net

Re: Contract Change?

They notify you by putting a note on your bill that the terms of use are updated, and you agree to it by continuing to subscribe.

You do not, however, have any chance to actually negotiate terms of use or reject new terms in favor of continuing old terms.
gruntlord6

join:2010-06-10
Barrie, ON

Re: Contract Change?

said by TSF :

They notify you by putting a note on your bill that the terms of use are updated, and you agree to it by continuing to subscribe.

You do not, however, have any chance to actually negotiate terms of use or reject new terms in favor of continuing old terms.

You are actually allowed to cancel your contract for free if they changed a term that was originally on it, at least in canada that is how it works.

Kulasperu

@westernasset.com

Who Decides?

So does Verizon detects who's doing the pirating or does the RIAA/MPAA notify Verizon?

MovieLover76

join:2009-09-11
kudos:1

Re: Who Decides?

It's probably the RIAA/MPAA.
This is their baby.
Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
If Verizon is smart they will open a new revenue stream too. $100,000 per IP address as a fee for DMCA requests.

I wonder if the movie industry would mass accuse then.
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

Xioden
Premium
join:2008-06-10
Monticello, NY
kudos:1

Re: Who Decides?

A few hundred per request wouldn't be unreasonable. You need to recieve it, read it, send it to legal, send it back to some other guy to actually pull the information, send it back to legal for the response, etc. Those lawyers don't come cheap, and they have to make sure that the request is valid to protect their customers.

MxxCon

join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY
They'll be using company called "MarkMonitor". They'll be doing some fancy fingerprinting hashing bs.
--
[Sig removed by Administrator: signature can not exceed 20GB]
Kamus

join:2011-01-27
El Paso, TX

This is gonna blow up on their face...

Sell people high speed Internet, then send them back to 90's speeds. Sounds like a fool proof plan to me...

See 24 replies to this post
tmc8080

join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY
Reviews:
·ooma
·Optimum Online
·Verizon FiOS

a game by any other name..

either it's going to make smarter pirates, or it's going to piss off the customer so much they leave..

all of this will be bandied about word of mouth.. so customers might not want to sign up for that 2 year CONTRACT which you trade for a $300 kickback if they're going to do this to you..

going from whack a mole to angry birds... is a game by any other name...

MxxCon

join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY

Arbitrate but lose?

So what happens if you challenge this bullshit accusation in their bullshit arbitration circus and lose that challenge? What will happen then?
--
[Sig removed by Administrator: signature can not exceed 20GB]
bushleaguer

join:2007-01-22
Gillette, NJ

Re: Arbitrate but lose?

said by MxxCon:

So what happens if you challenge this bullshit accusation in their bullshit arbitration circus and lose that challenge? What will happen then?

According to the article, after the 6th "strike" then Verizon could be forced to turn over your identity (via your IP address) from a court order so that the copyright holder can pursue legal action. This is not guaranteed, but it is odd that after a 6th strike nothing happens.

What I can't stand about this is the presumption of guilt. I don't buy the "if you're not doing anything wrong then you have nothing to worry about" argument. I wouldn't know how to torrent if I tried but I don't want some documentation error resulting in my receiving e-mails and phone calls alleging that I'm an internet pirate. The companies making these allegations should have to prove the allegation is some form or fashion.
silbaco

join:2009-08-03
USA

Re: Arbitrate but lose?

DMCA allows for the shoot first, ask later mentality of service providers.
andre2

join:2005-08-24
Brookline, MA

DSL Extreme

Is DSL Extreme going to be involved in this? They keep logs for only 2 weeks as opposed to Verizon's 18 months. They also allow new dry loop DSL signups, in case Verizon tries to enforce this selectively as an excuse to get rid of DSL customers.

kamm

join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY

Perfect - it'll clearly prove that we need to regulate it...

...and reclassify internet as a utility, coming down hard on the non-competitive, quasi-monopolistic practices of cablecorps, telecom providers etc.

TWC, Verzion, Comcast, AT&T etc - they all itching for a big fuckin spanking, it's about time to give'em hell so let's just kick in the balls this slimebag Genachowski and get him to work for his paycheck...
--
[BQUOTE=[user=bicker]]Waaaa waaaa waaaa. You just want what you want and don't care to factor in what is right or true. Your perspectives are un-American, and deserve far more ridicule than I'm prepared to pile on them.
[/BQUOTE]

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