Internet Service Providers and Copyright Infringement

The Internet allows for the creation and distribution of music in ways never thought possible before. More and more ordinary citizens are mashing up digital music and videos or creating their own works and publishing them online. At the same time, copyrigthed content is being exchanged on the Internet without authorization from rights holders. Because of this, many content holders would like Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to bear some responsibility for copyright infringement. The major record labels and movie studios have led the charge to bring about changes in the law so that ISPs can be held liable for their customer’s infringements. Today, despite laws requiring ISPs to take down content that is infringing content owners want more. They are pressuring ISPs to actively monitor their networks and to block any content that may contain their copyrights.