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Japan is planning to cut off internet connections for those who illegally download files.
The country's four ISP organisations have agreed to disconnect those who repeatedly use file-sharing software like Japanese-developed Winny, the Daily Yomiuri reports.
There are around 1,000 internet service providers that belong to the four groups, which include the Telecom Service Association and the Telecommunications Carriers Association.
Daily Yomiuri said that cutting connections of flagrant file-sharers has been considered before, but concerns over privacy rights and the freedom to use telecommunications has stopped any moves.
An attempt two years ago by a Japanese ISP to block users was met by warnings from the country's Internal Affairs and communications ministry.
But the groups now believe that it is possible to disconnect specific users, or cancel their provider contracts if they are identified as flagrantly breaking copyright laws.
The newspaper reported that a new organisation will be formed with copyright groups as early as next month.
It will begin making guidelines for disconnecting users who leak material online illegally.
Under the new agreement, copyright organisation will notify IP address providers of those repeatedly copying illegal files using special detection software.
The Winny users will be warned by email about file sharing, before being either temporarily disconnected or having their service contracts cancelled.
File sharers using the Winny software in Japan number about 1.75 million, with the bulk of files exchanged thought to be illegal.
A six-hour survey by a copyright organisation monitoring the web found 3.55 million examples of illegal gaming software with a retail value of 9.5 billion yen (NZ$177m), and 610,000 illegal music files worth 440 million yen.
Isamu Kaneko, a researcher at the University of Tokyo, developed Winny, which is Japan's most popular file-sharing program and became an instant web icon. In 2006 he was fined 1.5 million yen ($18,000) for his part in copyright infringement.
France and England are both looking closely at targeting those habitually flouting copyright laws by using file sharing systems like BitTorrent and LimeWire.
