Copyright Law

UK Govt Thinking ?Evolves,? Will Disconnect File-Sharers After All

By soulxtc

Says “urgent action” is needed and that the current timetable for fighting illegal P2P, which planned for harsher technical measures beginning in 2012, is “unacceptable.”

It appears that UK Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and his Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) wasn’t bluffing after all when it was reported last week that he’d ordered it to draw up plans for a crackdown on illegal file-sharers that includes giving ISPs the power to disconnect repeat offenders ala a ?three-strikes? graduated response system.

BIS says that notifications and certain technical measures, i.e. such bandwidth throttling and data caps, against repeat copyright infringers had already been on the table, but that its “thinking has evolved” on the use of “further technical measures.”

“In addition we are considering the case for adding into the list of technical measures the power, as a last resort, to suspend a subscriber?s account,” read a press release.

It feels that the current timetable, which stands at 2-3 yrs for a 70% reduction using a combination of notifications and technical measures, would take an “unacceptable amount of time to complete in a situation that calls for urgent action.”

BIS says that in order to stay ahead of the P2P tech curve it’s important that Ofcom, the body responsible for regulating ISPs in the UK and who would be tasked with overseeing the fight against illegal file-sharers, “has a full tool-kit” from which to select what measure is necessary and appropriate in each case.

“Technology and consumer behaviour is fast-changing and it?s important that Ofcom has the flexibility to respond quickly to deal with unlawful file-sharing,” says Stephen Timms, Minister for Digital Britain. ?We?ve been listening carefully to responses to the consultation this far, and it?s become clear there are widespread concerns that the plans as they stand could delay action, impacting unfairly upon rights holders. So we look forward to hearing views on our new ideas, which along with those already received, will help us determine the best way to tackle this complex challenge.?

BIS stresses that Internet disconnection is only one of the measures that “could be imposed,” and that it regards it only as a last resort being that it could affect an entire household’s ability to communicate online.

It’s odd that the UK govt would now find the timetable “unacceptable” being that the UK music industry’s OWN ECONOMIST concluded last month that its revenues are up some 4.7% since 2007!

Add to that the fact that a recent survey of UK music fans found that file-sharing was down 22% since 2007 and that the MPAA is enjoying another in a series of annual record breaking profits and you have to wonder what’s really behind its sudden urgency.

It’s also a stunning reversal from earlier comments by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham who said that the govt had all but ruled out disconnecting repeat file-sharers from the Internet, a measure which he called “too draconian.”

The Open Rights Group, a UK-based digital rights advocacy organization, faults the govt for interfering in the marketplace and forcing a failing business model on the public despite its objections. It warns of “knee-jerk reactions and policy swerves” and urges people to write to their MP today to protest the proposal.

Disconnecting people from the Internet, which is necessary for full civic participation in a democratic society, should never be an option, especially when it’s done in the name of guaranteeing profits.

Full post as published by ZeroPaid on August 25, 2009 (boomark / email).