Virgin Media and UMG launching unlimited music service

UK ISP Virgin Media has teamed up with Universal Music Group for its long-awaited unlimited music service, which has been announced today but won't launch until later in the year. However, alongside it, Virgin is committing itself to “temporary” suspension of internet access for persistent file-sharers using its network.Users will be able to stream AND download as many music tracks and albums as they want from UMG's entire catalogue, paying a monthly subscription fee. The fee itself hasn't been announced. The announcement says “Downloaded music will be theirs to keep permanently” in MP3 format, although it's unclear whether that means a certain number of tracks can be kept every month, or everything someone's downloaded.There will also be an “entry level” service, presumably cheaper, which won't be unlimited. Virgin Media says it's negotiating with other major and independent music labels and publishers in the UK to ensure it can offer a full catalogue at launch.It's a big carrot, but is there a stick? Possibly: check the wording in the press release:”In parallel, the two companies will be working together to protect Universal Music’s intellectual property and drive a material reduction in the unauthorised distribution of its repertoire across Virgin Media’s network. [...]