EU rejects plans to disconnect file sharers

European politicians have rejected calls for internet service providers (ISPs) to disconnect persistent file-sharers.

The Bono report, drafted by French MEP Guy Bone, said ISPs must cooperate in the fight against internet piracy; one way of doing this was to "suspend and terminate accounts with subscribers" who illegally download copyrighted material.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) said that no measures should be adopted that conflicted "with civil liberties and human rights and with the principles of proportionality, effectiveness and dissuasiveness, such as the interruption of internet access."

They voted to push through an amendment to the report, which was created in December 2007, to underline the economic and social importance of the cultural sector in the European Union. However the call was a close one, with 314 MEPs voting for the amendment and 297 against.

Although the decision is said not to be legally binding, it has ruffled the feathers of the music industry, which has been pushing for Europe to introduce a 'three-strikes' rule. This would force ISPs to ban users found sharing copyrighted files of music, TV shows or films via peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents Europe's music industry, said the amendment was "badly drafted" and contradicted everything else in the report.

Frances Moore, executive vice president of the IFPI, said: "If the aim of the report is to protect creative content, including in the online environment, we should be looking at all options available in the fight against copyright theft.

"Instead, this amendment suggested discarding certain options before there is even a proper debate."

But Malene Folke Chaucheprat, a European Parliament spokeswoman, said: "The vote shows that MEPs want to strike a balance between the interests of rights holders and those of consumers, and that big measures, such as cutting off internet access, shouldn't be used."

The UK Government suggested similar plans earlier this year and has warned ISPs that they could face legal sanctions if they do not take concrete steps to curb illegal downloads.

It outlined plans to begin a consultation on how this would proceed and said legislation could be implemented by April 2009.