The Business On... Charles Dunstone, Chairman, TalkTalk

Ah, the broadband chap.

Indeed. Mr Dunstone founded Carphone Warehouse in 1989, revolutionising the mobile phone business, and then launched TalkTalk, whose offer of free broadband access turned that market on its head too.

So what's he up to now?

He's taking the Government to the High Court over the Digital Economy Act, passed in the final few days of the last administration. It requires internet service providers such as TalkTalk to tackle customers accused of downloading pirated music or film – by sending them warning letters, or even cutting them off altogether.

So he's on the pirates' side?

Not exactly. Mr Dunstone – a keen sailor who has his own yacht – does not defend the online pirates any more than he would their maritime counterparts. But nor does he want TalkTalk and its fellow ISPs to be responsible for dealing with them, insisting that copyright owners ought to be taking action directly.

But surely something has to be done?

Probably, though music and film companies are beginning to earn decent sums online. The trouble with the Act, Mr Dunstone reckons, is that any pirate with a full set of cutlasses will work out how to disguise his identity, possibly by piggy-backing on innocent customers' accounts.

Still, this sounds like a losing battle?

Don't bet on it. Mr Dunstone reckons Britain's new law may contravene European Union legislation – and he is not fighting by himself. He has already compiled a 35,000-name petition against the piracy rules and BT has signed up to jointly front the High Court case. He is a determined fellow, once trekking to the North Pole in terrible conditions.

Any friends in high places who might help?

Sadly not. Fellow Carphone founder David Ross is close to senior figures in the Conservative Party, but Mr Dunstone has always been seen as a Labour ally – he was even once photographed sunbathing with Tony Blair on a yacht in Barbados.