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Anger at UK file-sharing policy Anger at UK file-sharing policy
(about 1 hour later)
Internet service providers (ISPs) have reacted with anger to new proposals on how to tackle internet piracy.Internet service providers (ISPs) have reacted with anger to new proposals on how to tackle internet piracy.
The government is proposing a tougher stance which would include cutting off repeat offenders from the net.The government is proposing a tougher stance which would include cutting off repeat offenders from the net.
UK ISP Talk Talk said the recommendations were likely to "breach fundamental rights" and would not work.UK ISP Talk Talk said the recommendations were likely to "breach fundamental rights" and would not work.
Virgin said that "persuasion not coercion" was key in the fight to crack down on the estimated six million file-sharers in the UK.Virgin said that "persuasion not coercion" was key in the fight to crack down on the estimated six million file-sharers in the UK.
TalkTalk's director of regulation Andrew Heaney told the BBC News the ISP was as keen as anyone to clamp down on illegal file-sharers.TalkTalk's director of regulation Andrew Heaney told the BBC News the ISP was as keen as anyone to clamp down on illegal file-sharers.
"This is best done by making sure there are legal alternatives and educating people, writing letters to alleged file-sharers and, if necessary, taking them to court. "This is best done by making sure there are legal alternatives and educating people, writing letters to alleged file-sharers and, if necessary, taking them to court."
If Lord Mandelson really 'doesn't get the internet', you can be sure that there will be plenty of people now offering to educate him Rory Cellan-JonesIf Lord Mandelson really 'doesn't get the internet', you can be sure that there will be plenty of people now offering to educate him Rory Cellan-Jones
But introducing measures to simply cut people off will not work, he said.But introducing measures to simply cut people off will not work, he said.
"Disconnecting alleged offenders will be futile given that it is relatively easy for determined file-sharers to mask their identity or their activity to avoid detection," he added."Disconnecting alleged offenders will be futile given that it is relatively easy for determined file-sharers to mask their identity or their activity to avoid detection," he added.
There are also concerns that the method of identifying offenders using the IP address of a specific machine may punish those who share a web connection.There are also concerns that the method of identifying offenders using the IP address of a specific machine may punish those who share a web connection.
A spokeswoman for Virgin Media was concerned that a "heavy-handed, punitive regime will simply alienate consumers".A spokeswoman for Virgin Media was concerned that a "heavy-handed, punitive regime will simply alienate consumers".
It was also concerned about the costs of implementing such a system. 'Bizarre'
Politicians on all sides have been split by the proposal.
Speaking on Radio 4's PM programme, the former Cabinet Secretary, Tom Watson MP, said that Lord Mandleson had reached "the wrong conclusion".
ILLEGAL FILE-SHARING File-sharing is not illegal. It only becomes illegal when users are sharing content, such as music, that is protected by copyrightsThe crackdown will be aimed at people who regularly use technologies, such as BitTorrent, and websites, such as The Pirate Bay, to find and download filesThere are plenty of legitimate services which use file-sharing technology such as some on-demand TV services Q&A: Disconnecting file-sharers
Don Foster MP, the Liberal Democrat's culture and media spokesman, told BBC News that Lord Mandleson's move was "reckless and dangerous".
"There are many families whose children, unbeknown to them, might be illegally downloading but now their own access could be put in jeopardy by Lord Mandleson's proposals."
Mr Foster acknowledged that online piracy was "a major problem in the UK" but said overriding the opinion of Lord Carter and two Secretary of States was "bizarre".
The Conservative MP John Whittingdale, who is also chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said he was broadly supportive of Lord Mandleson's proposals, but said that he may have inadvertently "killed his own bill".
"Personally I am on his [Lord Mandleson] side; peer-to-peer sharing is the greatest threat to our creative industries," he said.
"I don't think people should have their broadband cut off, but there are measures to restrict speed which is better than prosecuting people so they get a criminal record.
"That said, I have severe doubts that the government can get this bill through in the time available as if there is any opposition to it - and there will be now - there will be a general election before it goes through."
Listening carefullyListening carefully
Originally the Digital Britain report, published in June, gave Ofcom until 2012 to consider whether technical measures to catch pirates were necessary.Originally the Digital Britain report, published in June, gave Ofcom until 2012 to consider whether technical measures to catch pirates were necessary.
However, according to a statement from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills released on Tuesday, that timeframe is now considered "too long to wait". FROM THE PM PROGRAMME class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qskw">More from PM
ILLEGAL FILE-SHARING File-sharing is not illegal. It only becomes illegal when users are sharing content, such as music, that is protected by copyrightsThe crackdown will be aimed at people who regularly use technologies, such as BitTorrent, and websites, such as The Pirate Bay, to find and download filesThere are plenty of legitimate services which use file-sharing technology such as some on-demand TV services class="" href="/2/hi/technology/8044651.stm">Q&A: Disconnecting file-sharers However, according to a statement from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) released on Tuesday, that timeframe is now considered "too long to wait".
Stephen Timms, minister for Digital Britain, explained the change of heart. Stephen Timms, minister for Digital Britain, said: "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."
"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," he said.
It proposes that internet service providers (ISPs) are obliged to take action against repeat infringers and suggests that the cost of tracking down persistent pirates be shared 50:50 between ISPs and rights holders.It proposes that internet service providers (ISPs) are obliged to take action against repeat infringers and suggests that the cost of tracking down persistent pirates be shared 50:50 between ISPs and rights holders.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills denied that it had changed its position since the publication of Digital Britain and said that the recommendations were open to consultation.
"We are simply adding new ideas to the table that could potentially make the whole system more flexible and provide a quicker way to bring in technical measures," it said in a statement.
'Disproportionate'
ISPs have repeatedly argued that it is not their job to police the web.
The Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) said it was "disappointed by the proposal to force ISPs to suspend users' accounts".
HAVE YOUR SAYBy all means fine those who download illegally, but to cut them off from the internet would be taking away the right to free speech and communicationJanet Shaw, Romford, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYBy all means fine those who download illegally, but to cut them off from the internet would be taking away the right to free speech and communicationJanet Shaw, Romford, UK Send us your comments
"The solution to the piracy problem must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive." The proposal has been welcomed by the BPI, which represents the recorded music industry in Britain.
"ISPA and consumer groups consider disconnection of users to be a disproportionate response, a view that was recently supported by the European Parliament," it said in a statement.
European politicians recently ruled that cutting off someone's internet connection could be a breach of their human rights. The challenge came in response to France's tough policy on file-sharers.
ISPA also said that the changes had been proposed "without consultation with the internet industry".
Global issue
However, the proposal has been welcomed by some.
BPI, which represents the recorded music industry in Britain, welcomed the government's decision.
"'Digital piracy is a serious problem and a real threat to the UK's creative industries," it said in a statement."'Digital piracy is a serious problem and a real threat to the UK's creative industries," it said in a statement.
FROM THE PM PROGRAMME class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qskw">More from PM "Today is a step forward that should help the legal digital market to grow for consumers."
Countries around the world are grappling with how to control internet piracy. In the US, student Joel Tenebaum, who has admitted downloading 800 songs, was last month ordered to pay $675,000 (£412,000) to various record labels after being found guilty on 31 charges of sharing music online. BIS denied that it had changed its position since the publication of Digital Britain and said that the recommendations were open to consultation.
In May, the French parliament passed legislation which would see a new state-agency sending warning letters to file sharers. If they are caught three times, they will be cut off. "We are simply adding new ideas to the table that could potentially make the whole system more flexible and provide a quicker way to bring in technical measures," it said in a statement.
There have been protests against similar proposed legislation in Australia and New Zealand. It is estimated that half of all the traffic on the net in the UK is content that is shared illegally.
It is estimated that half of all the traffic on the net in the UK being content that is shared illegally. The UK government has set a target of reducing the problem by at least 70%.
The UK government has set a target of reducing the problem by at least 70% in the next few years.
The games industry has already begun a clampdown of those illegally sharing videogames and the methods it uses would broadly be similar to those the music and film industry would rely on.
It uses a third body anti-piracy firm to identify alleged file-sharers and a court order is sent to the relevant internet service provider, forcing it to reveal the identity of the person behind the IP address.
Around 6,000 letters have been sent out by law firm ACS Law on behalf of firms such as Reality Pump and Topware Interactive who own video games Two Worlds and Dream Pinball respectively.
Some 20 users have come forward to say they have been wrongly accused. All face fines of up to £665 or threat of court action.