AT&T patents file sharing blocker

Internet service provider AT&T recently added a new anti-piracy patent which features technology that can detect file-sharers on its own network, assigning risk assessment to users and potentially limiting alleged pirates' access to file-sharing sites. The patent is called "Methods, devices and computer program products for regulating network activity using a subscriber scoring system".

AT&T explains in the documentation of the patent that such measures would be required to prevent users that access pirated content from hogging bandwidth through illegal downloads.

"Internet piracy may account for significant bandwidth usage, which may be problematic for a service provider," explains the company. "Thus far, copyright protection measures that have been deployed by, for example, the entertainment industry, have failed to curtail increases in Internet piracy."

"For example, millions of downloads may result from just one file that is posted on a shared network." the patent reads. "Thus, efforts to date have been insufficient in protecting a user and/or a service provider from the results of unwanted network activity, which may pose significant risks to the user, network and/or service provider."

Although AT&T now owns this patent, it remains unclear whether the provider already has implemented the system or is planning to implement it.

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