Categories: RegulationWorkspace

Digital Economy Bill Could Be Pushed Through Before Election

The Digital Economy Bill, which has been the topic of heated debate since it was first announced as part of the Queen’s speech in November, could become law before April – ahead of the next general election.

According to senior industry figures, if the Bill proceeds to its second reading in the House of Commons by the time parliament is dissolved at the start of April, then it is likely to enter the “wash up” process – where legislation that has not finished its passage through parliament is pushed through.

The Bill contains several measures designed to reduce copyright infringement and combat piracy, some of which have been widely discredited by industry commentators and ISPs. As it stands, the Bill will enable government to impose an escalating series of sanctions on persistent file-sharers, starting with sending letters to illegal downloaders and culminating in slowing down the connection speed of offenders or temporarily suspending their connections.

Fast approval could cut debate short

Once the Bill reaches the “wash up” stage, the government will only be able to pass it with the support of the opposition, so any clauses that are opposed by the Tories are likely to be dropped. The Conservatives have already requested that government reverses a bid to set up “independently financed news consortia”, which will produce regional news to be shown only on ITV1.

“We have been clear that we want the bill to go through as quickly as possible,” a Tory spokeswoman told TechEye. “We are keen to get this passed and have therefore tried to speed up the bill by being clear over the clause we would like changed. This will hopefully decrease time spent on debate and further amendments and help the bill get passed.”

However, critics of the Bill have expressed concern that amendments are being made at the last minute without any proper debate or scrutiny. Only yesterday, the House of Lords dismissed the notorious Clause 17, which would have given Business Secretary Lord Mandelson the power to alter copyright law. The Lords have replaced it with a new – and arguably more draconian – amendment, which allows copyright owners to ask the high court to cut off websites that host illegally-shared files.

The amendment itself has already met with a dismayed response from the industry. “Our members are extremely concerned that the full implications of the amendment have not been understood and that the reasoning behind the amendment is wholly misguided,” said Nicholas Lansman, Secretary-General of the Internet Services Providers Association (ISPA).

Several other bodies are now also moving to oppose the early approval of the Digital Economy Bill. “Given the potentially profound impact it would have, we think this is unacceptable,” said Andrew Heaney, executive director of strategy and regulation at TalkTalk. Meanwhile, a group of Liberal Democrat MPs have labelled amendment 120A “draconian and unworkable” in an open letter to their party.

However, other industry commentators have been more sympathetic towards the government’s actions. “The government deserves credit for pushing through a proposal that is not a vote-winner,” one senior industry source told the Guardian. “They recognise that the creative industries are a huge asset for the country.”

Sophie Curtis

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  • It seems to me that this messy bill will take most of the good stuff off the internet, so the companies spending on faster internet connection may as well give up, because very few will want them. There has been talk of 3 strikes and your out for file sharing, blocking Utube, and closing down site that offer copyright material. Well they could do that if the web site is in the UK, but there is no way they will be able to stop sites from abroad unless they go the way of China. Censor the internet and you won't need to cut me off. I will cancel my connection.

  • They really have no idea, the only way its possible to achieve what they want to achieve is for either them or ISPs to monitor what we do. Thats a 1984 type stuff.

    To ban sites that may have infringing material regardless how trivial will not fly..

    For every Rapidshare/youtube site that gets censored 2 more will open..

    YOU CAN"T STOP THE INTERNET, ISPs should be stepping up their opposition as it affects local and worldwide trade.

    Look how their war on pornography went this will be no different.

    PEACE

  • Mandy’s Meddling’s a threat to Global Businesses.

    ‘Mandy’s Meddling’s’ with a 300 year old plus proven secure system as to Copyright Protection risks jeopardizing the integrity of its entire legal system by implementing new laws. Yet due to his apparent total lack of ‘Legal Knowledge’ and understandings of the complexities and magnitude of reverse negative effects this could have. ‘Mandy’s Meddling’s’ are on a par with that of a Butcher attempting to be a ‘Brain Surgeon’, for he neither has the knowledge nor proven ability in the field of Copyright Law.

    The constant meddling with UK Law’s by a very uneducated proven illiterate Governing body Brown & co has caused a breakdown in society to the extent that now the criminal is protected more so than the victims of crime. Now ‘Mandy’s Meddling’s’ are seeking the cause havoc in the Worlds most used and important tools in modern day history the Internet.

    To get a perspective as to what could happen do read. ‘Are all Copyright’s and patents under threat’? Here’s the link http://carl-agpcuk.livejournal.com/4301.html

    Signed Carl Barron Chairmen of agpcuk

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