Internet users throughout Europe accused of illegal file-sharing are to receive more protection from being cut off by their service provider.
The European Parliament and Council is due to make a decision on its Telecoms Reform Package in late November.
The package will entitle users in all 27 EU states to be put through a "fair and impartial procedure" before being disconnected.
The outcome is a compromise agreed during all night negotiations.
Some members of the European Parliament felt nobody should lose their connection until after they had been prosecuted in a court for illegally downloading content.
The new rules take the form of an amendment to a much wider revision of all Europe's telecoms regulations.
But they also represent a compromise between those who want greater protection for consumers and those who argue that copyright law is still being flagrantly disregarded by millions of computer users.
So far it is also less than clear exactly what will constitute a "fair and impartial" procedure.
