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Digital piracy poses a threat to the creative industries and their ability to give aspiring artists a chance, two senior ministers have said.
Business secretary Lord Mandelson and culture secretary Ben Bradshaw made the comments on illegal file-sharing during a visit to the Brit School in Croydon.
Lord Mandelson said the move is vital to protect the creative industries and the livelihoods of new talent.
Measures under consideration could see digital pirates have their connection slowed down or even cut off in serious cases, with the aim of cutting illegal file sharing by up to 80 per cent.
The business secretary said: "Downloading somebody's work without paying for it – whether it be music, film or computer games – is not a victimless act.
"In the end this problem will be solved not simply by new laws but by new approaches to doing business.
"We believe that temporary account suspension as a last resort, in the most serious cases, is worth considering to allow these new business models to develop."
He added that the government welcomed moves from firms including Spotify and Vodafone to provide consumers with legal download options.
The sanctions have been criticised by internet service providers, which claim they could be a breach of online users' rights.
Bradshaw said the sanctions are needed to allow the next generation of creative artists to flourish and to reward performers for their work.
"If we are to retain our creative edge in the long term and enjoy the cultural benefits that brings, we need innovation to allow that talent to shine," he argued.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
Ian
24th Sep 2009 at 3:32 pm