IT contractors who have been employed by bars and cafes to help them with their Wi-Fi networks may find such opportunities limited in future, according to a political organisation.

The passing of the Digital Economy Bill will have "a total chilling effect" on the willingness of small businesses to provide public Wi-Fi access, claims the Pirate Party, a political organisation who campaign for reform to copyright and patent law.

Under the terms of the bill, the named owner of the internet account will be directly responsible for any copyright infringement that takes place by anyone using it.

As such, providers of Wi-Fi in public places will have to register and verify the identity of users by entering credit card details, which will seriously hamper their ability to provide a convenient Wi-Fi service, according to Pirate Party deputy campaigns officer Pete Brett.

Copyright infringers, or the account holders of a network used for infringements, can be disconnected from the internet, which Mr Brett claims "could have serious consequences on their ability to lead a normal life".