virgin media has sent 800 letters customers warning them should not downloading illegal music files via file-sharing sites.
part of 10-week campaign running in conjunction bpi "educate" users downloads.
bpi, body represents uk record industry, told bbc "thousands more letters" sent.
stricter stance on illegal downloaders might result in isps being taken court, told bbc news.
refuseniks
bpi wants uk isps sign so-called 3 strikes policy - users of file sharing networks 2 warnings , disconnected if sharing copyright files.
far virgin media has officially signed , keen stress running education-only campaign , no-one has been thrown off network.
virgin said wording on envelope contains warning letter sent 800 customers - threatens consumers disconnection - "mistake".
reviewed in mid-august, said virgin media spokesman.
bpi's matt phillips supports letter campaign
bpi chief executive geoff taylor told bbc news body prepared education campaign legal action, including taking isps court.
"if have go court, go court , win," said.
1 customer received letter told bbc radio 1's newsbeat programme unhappy virgin media.
doomed fail
virgin customer mcgree
newsbeat talks virgin customers
mcgree received letter in june, warning him legal action taken against him.
said: "it's doomed fail. virgin media lose lot of customers on because people don't accused of stealing music on morning coffee.
"it made me feel betrayed. under impression paid virgin media money keep internet connection protected , safe."
said no-one in flat had been file-sharing , possible had accessed wireless network outside building.
becky hogge, executive director of open rights group, said letters disproportionate response music industry.
"we need protect users punitive measures," said.
said music industry had in position of offering viable alternative before clamped down on activities of users.
"stopping illicit file-sharing might not effective measure trying monetise it," said.
isps such carphone warehouse, have refused participate , bpi did not rule out possibility of taking such refuseniks court.
others, such bt, have sent letters subscribers threatening them disconnection although said not new policy.
"we have not joined "crusades", telco said in statement.
"we work various bodies them protect copyright material , pass on warning notices customers on behalf feel appropriate.
if customer continues in breach of our terms , conditions bt has right suspend or terminate customer's account, though work closely customers avoid possible," statement read.
industry has been given until spring of next year find solution illegal downloaders or face legislation.
youth-skewed
current system involves bpi policing file sharing networks. looks illegal traffic , identifies ip address has come , informs isp.
there no distinction made between has downloaded 1 illegal track , has downloaded thousands.
joint letter virgin , bpi sent individual.
"this education. make no assumptions @ fault. may in family or illegally using wi-fi connection," said virgin media spokesman.
conservative estimates suggesting fifth of europeans involved in file sharing, experts question how impact such system can have.
"file sharing youth-skewed. bpi isn't going close door on problem can @ families kids file sharing without knowledge," said mark mulligan, analyst jupiter research.
virgin keen stress 800 or letters has far sent drop in ocean compared 3.8m user base.
"in scheme of things relatively small number," said ian fogg, analyst jupiter research.
said isps faced difficult balancing act between conforming bpi's new rules , pleasing own customers.
"it sensitive issue providers. file sharers using network capacity , therefore pushing costs , illegal downloads compete own music services," said.
"they need seen doing enough don't sued , control costs need careful not upset customers."
3 strikes , you're in
record industry has long grappled how wrest control of digital music.
according jupiter research, fifth of europeans use file sharing networks. paid-for digital music services such itunes used 10% , make 8% of overall music revenue.
bpi admitted current mechanisms selling music "broken".
new strategy see negotiating licensed content deals isps have pursued file sharers.
"we want people see not 3 strikes , you're out 3 strikes , you're in legitimate music services," said frederico bolza, head of strategy @ sonybmg.
drm-free material may made available , new subscription models allow users keep of tunes download, said.
geoff taylor, chief executive of bpi, said details of services yet decided there variety of models on offer "easy , cheap".
form take crucial, thinks mr mulligan.
"charging tenner month hasn't worked. ideally needs incredibly cheap or free, massive catalogue can tranferrable," said.
mr taylor admitted bpi's current campaign unlikely stop file sharing did think idea web home free stuff needs challenged.
"there phenomenal amount of piracy out there , believe idea 95% of content on net free not sustainable. don't believe society can allow free consumption of content persist," said.
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