UK software industry takes piracy fight online

The UK software industry is taking its fight against software piracy to the Internet. The Federation Against Software Theft has begun trawling peer-to-peer traffic in an attempt to identify who is uploading and downloading software copies. Quite how the system, codenamed Operation Tracker, works will remain a closely guarded secret, but its primary aim is clear: to find companies where software is being illegally downloaded. ...more

UK lawyers warn of downloads clampdown

UK lawyers are keeping a close eye on the US record industry's legal moves against individuals it believes have been illegally sharing music files over the Internet. Andrew Curwen, a partner in law firm Rowe Cohen, says that the success or failure of prosecutions in the US could have implications not just for individual file sharers in the UK, but also for companies whose employees share files at work. The UK record industry's body, the BPI, has said that it is monitoring the situation in the US before deciding whether to take any action here. ...more

New report finds fresh hurdles for 3G

A new report from The Work Foundation has revealed that 3G providers may face an uphill task persuading customers to shell out for expensive data services. The Work Foundation's iSociety Project, set up to offer independent insights into the way information and communications technologies affect everyday life in the UK, has published a report on mobile usage that suggests the UK populace is far from ready to splash out on expensive handsets and multimedia services. The MobileUK: Mobile Phones and Everyday Life report argues that 'the fast take-up of second-generation mobile telephones creates what is likely to be an unrepeatable precedent for future mobile services. ...more

World Net population grows to 300 million

The number of world-wide Internet users is nearing 300 million, with the UK, Germany and Italy leading the way in Europe, says a new survey by analyst firm Nielsen/NetRatings. The US is still the largest wired nation by far, with 137 million people with home access. The second is Japan, at 26. ...more

BT to introduce new broadband promotion for SMEs

BT has introduced a new service aimed at taking the pain of managing broadband Internet connections from small businesses. The company is offering a new promotion on its Business Broadband service. For an initial price of ?19. ...more