TCS seeks to deprive cyber pirates of loot

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is developing the world's first anti-piracy system for Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

TCS' advanced technology team in Hyderabad has already developed the basic modules of this technology solution, that will help ISPs detect downloading of illegal programs by individual users, and then alert program developers to it.

M Vidyasagar, executive vice-president and head of the advance technology team, said this was the first such technological attempt in the world against illegal downloading.

"There is no technology available to ISPs to check online piracy," he pointed out.

The software, which is in development stage, is designed to recognise the legal and illegal versions of programs being downloaded by individual users. Thus, it can help ISPs track their subscribers' downloading activities.

Accordingly, the ISPs can alert the original music or movie companies, and subsequently initiate appropriate action as per the latter's instruction.

Steps taken by ISPs to arrest piracy could be anything from sending primary warnings to a subscriber about his illegal activity to limiting the speed and quantum of downloads by the particular subscriber, and jamming the line while the illegal downloads are in progress.

"In a way, the software is going to be a device with the ISPs to enforce anti-piracy laws across the world," said Vidyasagar.

TCS is targeting ISPs across the world, which is a huge market segment today. Vidyasagar, however, declined to reveal the quantum of investment into the project. "It is too early to comment on the market size and returns as well," he said.

Industry analysts who tracked the entertainment sector said it was going to be a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for TCS, as Internet piracy across the world is estimated to be around $6-7 billion, and the film and the music industry are up in arms to prevent it at any cost.