With the deadline for initial public comment on Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s 'Net Neutrality' proposal ending today, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) yesterday urged the FCC to "adopt flexible rules" so that Internet service providers (ISPs) have the freedom to fight copyright theft.

Since the FCC's 'Net Neutrality' comprises a set of regulations that will essentially help innovation and free speech flourish on the Internet, the lobbying group for the leading four recording companies requested the FCC to ensure that anti-piracy efforts are not hampered when net neutrality - or 'Open Internet' - regulations are implemented.

Saying that 'net neutrality' principles should not shield illegal content like pirated songs, the RIAA - which submitted its comments to the FCC as well as two US congressmen - said: "In these comments, we encourage the FCC to stay its course and explicitly support, encourage, and endorse ISP efforts to fight piracy."

With the net neutrality effort essentially advocating that Web should be open to all forms of content, Web sites, and platforms, the RIAA intends to encourage ISPs to adopt a "graduated response" when they cope with illegal file sharing.

The RIAA is opines that such a gradual response would ensure that ISPs' pressure on people infringing copyright works is stepped up slowly but surely. And, if the RIAA had its way, perpetual wrongdoers could lose Web access for some time.