UK’s Digital Economy Bill

“Piracy is the major threat to creativity and tomorrow’s music and musicians.” John Morton, President of FIM (International Federation of Musicians)

Copyright laws have largely failed to keep up with technology, making online piracy a huge issue in the music industry.  The UK is hoping to combat this with the passage of the Digital Economy Bill.  The new bill sets forward steps that ISPs and rights holders would follow when confronted with repeat offenders – or those who continually download music illegally.

The bill’s main thrust is that letters and threats of legal action would be the first step in deterring these “pirates.”  Rights – or license – holders will pay ISPs a flat fee in order to generate these letters.  If there is not a “significant reduction – 70% – in filing sharing,” further measures could be taken.  These include suing the offenders (after a certain number of warning letters, the rights holders can get a court order disclosing the name and address of the offender in order to pursue legal action) , capping their bandwidth, or suspending their internet service.

The Digital Economy Bill was roundly praised by the music business.  CEO of Britain’s music industry’s umbrella organization, UK Music, Feargal Sharkey, says, “…our industry continues to develop and partner with emerging digital services.  ISPs and tech companies must work with us, and it is imperative that we reach out together to genuine fans of music.  For the future of creative businesses in the UK and our continued ability to succeed and dominate a global stage, Government support and intervention is not only welcome, it is vital.”

The Digital Economy Bill also makes an effort to keep up with technology; it contains provisions which allow Parliament to amend the bill as new technologies, and more advanced forms of pirating, emerge.

There were a few dissenting notes, however.  Nicholas Lansman, Secretary General of ISPA (Internet Service Providers Association, says, “Rather than focusing blindly on enforcement, the government should be asking rights holders to reform the licensing framework so that legal content can be distributed online to consumers in a way that they are clearly demanding.”  In other words, the law not only needs to keep up with technology, it should keep up with the needs of the people.  For now, though, the music business is happy that the government is taking a tougher stance on piracy.

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Tagged as: copyright, digital economy bill, UK