EOL finds way to block illegal data

Local businesses are now being offered a comprehensive way of preventing staff members from illegally downloading material off the internet in breach of new copyright laws.
In a nationwide first, Tauranga-based internet service provider EOL is offering its business customers the chance to completely block certain types of data, such as unauthorised movie and music downloads, ahead of the New Zealand Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill that takes effect on September 1, 2011.
Under the new law organisations could be liable for damages up to $15,000 or be disconnected from the internet altogether if staff members repeatedly download copyright material using the company's internet connection.
Copyright infringers are tracked down through their IP (internet protocol) address. But co-workers share the same IP address, placing their employer at risk instead of the individual responsible.
EOL's managing director, Terry Coles, says the technology used for downloading copyright material has become very sophisticated.
"Downloads can easily pass through an organisation's firewall undetected. Your first indication that a staff member is file sharing may be when you receive an infringement notice from a copyright holder."
EOL was quick to spot this potential problem when the new copyright law was passed in Parliament last month, and has since designed a Proactive internet Policy Enforcement Service known as PIPES.
Mr Coles says PIPES will allow businesses to select from a range of data types that they don't want delivered to their connection. In addition to illegal file sharing, this may also include many legal applications that have a real cost to their business in staff downtime such as streaming video and online chat.
EOL is the only internet service provider in New Zealand to have invested in a 'Deep Packet Inspection Server' which allows the company to provide this unique service.
All data that goes through EOL's internet gateway will pass through this special server which analyses every single packet of data, giving businesses the chance to block certain data types and limit the chance of illegal material entering their network.
"The potential liability for companies under this new copyright law is serious," Mr Coles says. "In addition to the punitive implications from illegal downloads, there may also be considerable costs associated with staff downtime, risk of viruses and excess data being transmitted to a company.
"If businesses don't want to take those risks, our PIPES service will block that data for them," he says.
EOL is one of New Zealand's only independently owned wireless internet companies.