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Verizon and Time Warner will throttle speeds and limit browsing under new Copyright Alert System

Verizon and Time Warner will throttle speeds and limit browsing under new Copyright Alert System

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fbi anti-piracy seal (fbi)
fbi anti-piracy seal (fbi)

Verizon and Time Warner have detailed their plans to throttle and restrict customer internet services under the soon-to-be launched Copyright Alert System, Ars Technica reports. At yesterday's INET New York conference, Verizon revealed that it will give users a two-week warning before throttling internet speeds for a few days. Users who are subject to throttling can appeal their case through an independent firm for a fee of $35, but full restoration of service is not guaranteed. Time Warner will restrict browsing by blocking popular websites, which can also be appealed.

Under the "six strikes" warning system, the Center for Copyright Information (CCI) explains, users receive an educational email notifying them of their infringement for the first and second offenses. On the third and fourth alerts, customers receive another email that requires them to acknowledge that they received the warnings. If the user continues to infringe, then the internet service provider can choose to take action in a manner they see fit — by throttling connection speeds or otherwise limiting internet use. According to Ars Technica, CCI head Jill Lesser explained that the Copyright Alert System's purpose isn't to stop "serial pirates," but rather to educate casual infringers "for whom trading in copyrighted material has become a social norm."