MPAA Negotiates with ISPs to Disconnect or Penalize Copyright Offenders

Penalties range from redirecting infringers' browsers to an anti-piracy message and disconnecting them entirely, a movie industry source familiar with the talks said Friday.

The revelation came as the Recording Industry Association of America is talking with the same ISPs to get them to adopt a “three-strikes" plan and cut internet access to repeat infringers of music copyright. The RIAA proposal aims to make music fans stop trading pirated material, while limiting industry lawsuits that target individual offenders who face court damages of as much as $150,000 an infringement.

A source familiar with Hollywood's negotiations says the movie industry's plans, which could be announced as early as next month, are still fluid and nothing has been finalized. The source, who requested anonymity, said the ISPs ultimately could decide on a range of proposed sanctions, including suspending service to those found sharing copyright material.