Tiscali deal is a wake-up call. (comment).

A key Italian ISP has sent us a very clear message this week.

The news that Tiscali has entered into a deal with peer-to-peer file-sharing operation KazAa should be a warning to anyone who feels that the music industry sorting out its online offer is anything but highly urgent.

Back at the BPI AGM in June, BTopenworld's music content leaders should have left the business in no doubt. If the industry doesn't do its utmost to back those who want to support legitimate download businesses, it will miss out in a very big way.

The battle against the online pirates is a crucial one. But cracking down on the bad guys is only one side of the story--working in partnership with the good guys is just as important.

The likes of BT Openworld, Tiscali and others are understandably keen to offer a music proposition--music is, after all, perfect for the internet and a seductive means of driving traffic and building online value. And when such independent operators, with little reason to feel real affinity with the business, demonstrate enthusiasm for the legitimate route, we should welcome them with open arms. We should try our damnedest to make an attractive, meaningful offer, to build a business model which works for bath sides.

This doesn't mean we should band over backwards and put our own business at risk, but it does mean understanding ...