Elton John backs move to disconnect illegal file sharers

London: Sir Elton John has expressed his displeasure on music piracy and asserted that it should be dealt with by cutting off the internet connections of persistent illegal filesharers.

"I am of the view that the unchecked proliferation of illegal downloading (even on a "non-commercial" basis) will have a seriously detrimental effect on musicians, and particularly young musicians and those composers who are not performing artists," the Guardian quoted him as stating in a letter written to the business secretary, Lord Mandelson. However, the music world seems to be divided on how to go about with fighting music piracy. Pink Floyd's Nick Mason, Billy Bragg and Tom Jones are part of the Featured Artists Coalition, which has announced that it has "agreed to disagree" with labels over government proposals to suspend the internet connections of persistent filesharers. The coalition came up with a statement: "We have negotiated in good faith with the labels all week, but they remain wedded to the idea of suspension of accounts. “We remain steadfast in our belief that making threats against individual music fans is not an effective way to resolve any problems associated with filesharing." ANI