E-Commerce News – Wednesday, April 01, 2009

There are reports that Cox and AT&T (NYSE: T) have begun cooperating with the Recording Industry Association of America’s new antipiracy strategy — first announced in December — of targeting illegal file-sharing activities through Internet service providers instead of through the courts.

Once the RIAA identifies someone downloading or uploading copyrighted content, it contacts the ISP, which then forwards a warning to the customer. After three warnings, the customer’s Internet access is shut off — that is, if everything goes according to the RIAA plan.

However, it is unclear how closely the ISPs are following this script. For example, Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSK) does forward warnings to customers, company spokesperson Sena Fitzmaurice told the E-Commerce Times, but it does not cut off their Internet access, regardless of how many warnings are sent.

“That has always been our policy,” she said.

Liz Kennedy of the RIAA did not return a call from the E-Commerce Times.

AT&T and Cox also did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.