Ofcom is reported to have published a draft code concerning the implementation of first stages of the Digital Economy Act, outlining how copyright holders and ISPs will attempt to catch suspected unlawful file-sharers.

The draft initial obligations code was uncovered on Friday and is open to consultation until 30 July.

In addition, the draft are depicts that three notifications will be delivered to all suspected file-sharers prior to their details being taken to rights holders for further action, and it also clarifies that the issue of operating open Wi-Fi networks.

As per the draft code, rights holders will send ISPs copyright infringement reports (CIR), highlighting that the violation levels on their networks and listing the details of those suspected to be culprits behind it.

These details are required to be delivered to the ISP within 10 working days of the evidence being accumulated.

Also, CIRs would accompany a report demonstrating the processes and systems used by the rights holder to accumulate evidence.

"In order that the identification process is sufficient to ensure that subscribers receiving notifications have been reliably identified, we propose that ISPs should have in place effective technical systems to match IP address allocation to subscribers," Ofcom quoted.