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Verizon's 'Six Strikes' Anti-Piracy Program Details Leaked
Repeat Offenders to Be Throttled Back to 256 kbps

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.

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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:
quote:
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

saneblane

Anon

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

1 recommendation

ITALIAN926

Member

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

saneblane

Anon

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

What revenue is piracy harming for Verizon?

ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16

1 recommendation

ITALIAN926

Member

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

TV !

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76

Member

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

ITALIAN926

Member

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
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76

Member

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

Skippy25 to ITALIAN926

Member

to ITALIAN926
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

ITALIAN926

Member

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

Skippy25

Member

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

ITALIAN926

Member

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
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru

MVM

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

ITALIAN926

Member

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

He's not
gruntlord6
join:2010-06-10
Barrie, ON

gruntlord6

Member

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

ITALIAN926

Member

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

Trencher to cdru

Member

to cdru
*SUPER MEGA LIKE* lol... You hit the nail on the head!

NormanS
I gave her time to steal my mind away
MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
TP-Link TD-8616
Asus RT-AC66U B1
Netgear FR114P

1 edit

NormanS to ITALIAN926

MVM

to ITALIAN926
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.

The Limit
Premium Member
join:2007-09-25
Denver, CO

The Limit to ITALIAN926

Premium Member

to ITALIAN926
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

1 edit

ITALIAN926

Member

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

Trencher

Member

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

ITALIAN926

Member

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

gruntlord6

Member

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

ITALIAN926

Member

Re: Is this some kind of joke?

Its absolutely related, and if you cant correlate the two scenarios , YOU are the idiot.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

1 recommendation

88615298 (banned) to Skippy25

Member

to Skippy25
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

Trencher

Member

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?
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

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

Trencher

Member

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

ITALIAN926

Member

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

Trencher

Member

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

Trencher to ITALIAN926

Member

to ITALIAN926
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
New York

serge87

Member

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

•••••
Expand your moderator at work
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned) to Trencher

Member

to Trencher
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

Trencher to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
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.

••••••

The Limit
Premium Member
join:2007-09-25
Denver, CO

The Limit to ITALIAN926

Premium Member

to ITALIAN926
Yea, about those "lost" profits. Please provide some evidence of that, otherwise it's all bologna.
serge87
join:2009-11-29
New York

serge87

Member

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

1 recommendation

Angrychair to saneblane

Member

to saneblane
said by saneblane :

Verizon could care less about piracy

Really? Just curious, but how much less?

•••••••••••••••••
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

gaforces (banned)

Member

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.
silbaco
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Re: Much lawsuites incoming

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

MxxCon
join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY

MxxCon to gaforces

Member

to gaforces
Whoever pays the bill is fully responsible for what happens on their connection.

ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16

ITALIAN926

Member

LMAO

Thottled to 256k?? Awwww, the leeches will have to WAIT for their shows and movies. Boo Hoo.
serge87
join:2009-11-29
New York

serge87

Member

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
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Considering..

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

•••••••
brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Tampa, FL

brianiscool

Member

Simple Fix!

TOR

workablob
join:2004-06-09
Houston, TX

workablob

Member

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
Expand your moderator at work

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

jjoshua

Premium Member

Punished by Verizon?

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

••••

keef
@verizon.net

keef

Anon

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)?

••••

Kulasperu
@westernasset.com

Kulasperu

Anon

Who Decides?

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

••••
Kamus
join:2011-01-27
El Paso, TX

Kamus

Member

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...

••••••••••••••••••••••••
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

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

MxxCon

Member

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?
bushleaguer
join:2007-01-22
Gillette, NJ

bushleaguer

Member

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
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Re: Arbitrate but lose?

DMCA allows for the shoot first, ask later mentality of service providers.
andre2
join:2005-08-24
Brookline, MA

andre2

Member

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

kamm

Member

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...