Virgin Media has sent about 800 letters to customers warning them that they should not be downloading illegal music files via file-sharing sites.

…

The BPI, the body which represents the UK record industry, told the BBC that “thousands more letters” would be sent.

Source: BBC
Hat tip: z303 (via the ORG del.icio.us feed)

Computing reports:

An online tax system run by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has inadvertently exposed private business details.

Several music stars and composers gathered in Brussels on Thursday to campaign against proposed changes to the rules governing music copyright

Source: BBC
Hat tip: z303 (via the ORG del.icio.us tag)

The register notes that:

The Central London County Court has ordered four BitTorrent users to pay a video games company £750 interim damages following a landmark victory by no win, no fee copyright lawyers.

The BBC reports:

The UK government has launched a competition to find innovative ways of using the masses of data it collects. … The Power of Information Taskforce - headed by cabinet office minister Tom Watson - is offering a £20,000 prize fund for the best ideas.

The International Music Score Library Project - a “a virtual library containing all public domain musical scores, as well as scores from composers who are willing to share their music with the world without charge” - has re-opened after a 10-month hiatus:

It is with great joy that I bring you news of the resurrection of IMSLP. We continue to believe that the access to our culture and the Arts is a fundamental right of every human being. And holding this belief, we continue in our journey towards the goals of providing public access to the musical public domain, and the facilitation of the study of music, the understanding of music, and the enjoyment of music.

via Slashdot.

Seen on BroadbandTVNews:

Draft proposals that would end the national monopolies held by music royalty collection societies have been leaked from the European Commission.

Kablenet reports:

Scotland’s business minister has raised the prospect of extending the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act beyond public sector bodies.

The Register sends word that:

BT, the UK’s largest broadband provider, has begun threatening subscribers with disconnection from the internet if it is told they are sharing copyright music over peer-to-peer networks

The Register reports:

Legal broadband subscription services that permit file sharing may appear on the market by the year’s end, according to music industry sources - after government intervention brought both music suppliers and ISPs to the table.