UK to enforce copyrights on Internet
Richard Moore
Secret copyright treaty leaks. It's bad. Very bad.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/03/secret-copyright-tre.html
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8366255.stm
[cid:31125470-F2C1-4D02-9742-7DF379856163@home] Government lays out
digital plans
The government has laid out its plans to deal with illegal file-sharers
as part of its Digital Economy Bill, outlined in the Queen's Speech.
It includes the power to disconnect persistent pirates.
But its controversial broadband tax is not mentioned and will be
launched as part of the Finance Bill, due next year.
Other elements of the bill include a shake-up of the radio spectrum
and a classification system for video games.
The bill will, according to the government, "ensure communications
infrastructure that is fit for the digital age, supports future
economic growth, delivers competitive communications and enhances
public service broadcasting".
DIGITAL ECONOMY BILL * Legal framework for tackling copyright
infringement via education and technical measure * Oftcom given
powers to appoint and fund independently funded news consortia *
New duties for Ofcom to assess the UK's communications infrastructure
every two years * Modernising spectrum to increase investment
in mobile broadband * Framework for the move to digital radio
switchover by 2015 * Updating Channel 4 functions to encompass
public service content, on TV and online * Age ratings compulsory
for all boxed video games for those over 12 years
The plans for tackling illegal file-sharing, detailed earlier this
year, will be a two-stage process. Initially the government will
aim to educate consumers and, those identified as downloading illegal
content, will be sent letters.
If this proves insufficient, technical measures which will include
the powers to disconnect persistent pirates, will be introduced in
the spring of 2011.
Chief executive of music industry body the BPI, Geoff Taylor,
welcomed the bill.
"It is good news for fans of British music that government is now
introducing legislation to tackle illegal downloading. The creative
sector in the UK needs new measures implemented urgently that address
this problem for now and the future if the UK is to lead Europe in
giving consumers innovative and high quality digital entertainment,"
he said.
But not everyone believes the plans are a good idea.
Lobby organisation The Open Rights Group is urging people to contact
their MP to oppose the plans.
Age ratings
"This plan won't stop copyright infringement and with a simple
accusation could see you and your family disconnected from the
internet - unable to engage in everyday activities like shopping
and socialising," it said.
The government will also introduce age ratings on all boxed video
games aimed at children aged 12 or over.
There is, however, little detail in the bill on how the government
will stimulate broadband infrastructure.
ANALYSIS Jane Wakefield, BBC News technology reporter
The Digital Economy Bill represents the culmination of the work
done by Lord Carter over the summer to set out a strategy for how
the UK can compete in the digital age.
Its plans to cut off file-sharers have been hugely controversial
and some believe the government could find itself at odds with
European legislation which aims to protect net users from disconnection.
Considering the bill is about stimulating the digital economy there
is little detail about broadband infrastructure in the bill.
Given that the UK has languished mid-table at best when it comes
to its global broadband performance, this might surprise some
commentators it does not form a more key part of a Digital Economy
Bill.
The controversial broadband tax will have to wait until the Budget
to get its chance to become law.
It is likely to have a tough time as the Tories have already opposed
it.
According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills,
there will be more details on the future of broadband networks when
the bill is published on Friday.
The plan to introduce universal broadband of at least 2 megabits
per second is not included.
"It does not need legislation," a spokeswoman for the Department
for Business, Innovation and Skills said.
Some #170m has been set aside from the digital switch-over budget
to help fund the so-called universal service commitment for broadband.
The most controversial part of the Digital Britain report was a
broadband tax to fund next-generation networks. This will form part
of the Finance Bill, due after the 2010 budget.
The tax will see the government collect an extra 50p per month for
all households with a land-line telephone in order to create a
next-generation broadband fund for areas of the country deemed
uneconomic for other firms to connect.
At a speech at the NextGen broadband conference in Leeds yesterday,
Digital Britain minister Stephen Timms reiterated his commitment
for next-generation broadband to reach 90% of the population by
2017.
"The UK is on track to seeing half of households having a choice
of next-generation service providers within the next three years.
The challenge today is to reach more than two-thirds of the
population," he said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/8366255.stm
Published: 2009/11/18 12:16:02 GMT
BBC MMIX
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