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| Web giants oppose copyright plans | Web giants oppose copyright plans |
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| Some of the biggest names on the web have written to Peter Mandelson to express "grave concerns" about elements of the Digital Economy Bill. | Some of the biggest names on the web have written to Peter Mandelson to express "grave concerns" about elements of the Digital Economy Bill. |
| Four firms including Facebook and Google object to clause 17 of the bill, which could give government the power to amend copyright law in the future. | Four firms including Facebook and Google object to clause 17 of the bill, which could give government the power to amend copyright law in the future. |
| "We urge you to remove Clause 17 from the bill," the letter read. | "We urge you to remove Clause 17 from the bill," the letter read. |
| According to the Department for Business, the clause will "future-proof online copyright laws". | According to the Department for Business, the clause will "future-proof online copyright laws". |
| The consortium, which also includes Yahoo and eBay, believe that if the clause is approved it will give "any future Secretary of State unprecedented and sweeping powers" to amend copyright laws. | The consortium, which also includes Yahoo and eBay, believe that if the clause is approved it will give "any future Secretary of State unprecedented and sweeping powers" to amend copyright laws. |
| "This power could be used, for example, to introduce additional technical measures or increase monitoring of user data even where no illegal practice has taken place," the letter read. | "This power could be used, for example, to introduce additional technical measures or increase monitoring of user data even where no illegal practice has taken place," the letter read. |
| This would "discourage innovation" and "impose unnecessary costs" representatives of the firms wrote. | This would "discourage innovation" and "impose unnecessary costs" representatives of the firms wrote. |
| DIGITAL ECONOMY BILL Legal framework for tackling copyright infringement via education and technical measure Ofcom given powers to appoint and fund independently funded news consortiaNew duties for Ofcom to assess the UK's communications infrastructure every two yearsModernising spectrum to increase investment in mobile broadbandFramework for the move to digital radio switchover by 2015Updating Channel 4 functions to encompass public service content, on TV and onlineAge ratings compulsory for all boxed video games for those over 12 years | |
| The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that clause 17 was a necessary extension of its plans to reduce copyright theft. | The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that clause 17 was a necessary extension of its plans to reduce copyright theft. |
| "There will be new methods of copyright infringement as technology develops. This is a way to future-proof our plans," said a spokeswoman. | "There will be new methods of copyright infringement as technology develops. This is a way to future-proof our plans," said a spokeswoman. |
| However, the consortium of companies say the clause is so broad ranging that it could risk "legitimate consumer use of current technology as well as future developments". | However, the consortium of companies say the clause is so broad ranging that it could risk "legitimate consumer use of current technology as well as future developments". |
| "We all acknowledge that new business models need to emerge to support creative content," the letter from European and UK representatives of the firms reads. | "We all acknowledge that new business models need to emerge to support creative content," the letter from European and UK representatives of the firms reads. |
| "They are inherently risky and entrepreneurs rely heavily on there being a consistent and stable approach to copyright enforcement. | "They are inherently risky and entrepreneurs rely heavily on there being a consistent and stable approach to copyright enforcement. |
| "This clause would inject an unprecedented level of uncertainty in this regard." | "This clause would inject an unprecedented level of uncertainty in this regard." |
| Other groups including US digital rights group The Electronic Frontier Foundation have objected to it. | Other groups including US digital rights group The Electronic Frontier Foundation have objected to it. |
| Clause 17 is part of the government's Digital Economy Bill, outlined in the Queen's speech in November 2009. | Clause 17 is part of the government's Digital Economy Bill, outlined in the Queen's speech in November 2009. |
| The bill includes a shake-up of the radio spectrum, a classification system for video games and plans to tackle illegal file-sharing. | The bill includes a shake-up of the radio spectrum, a classification system for video games and plans to tackle illegal file-sharing. |
| The so-called "three strikes" element of the bill would give regulator Ofcom new powers to disconnect persistent net pirates. | The so-called "three strikes" element of the bill would give regulator Ofcom new powers to disconnect persistent net pirates. |
| The plans have proved controversial with lobby organisation The Open Rights Group urging people to contact their MP to oppose the plans. | The plans have proved controversial with lobby organisation The Open Rights Group urging people to contact their MP to oppose the plans. |
| The bill will have its second reading in the House of Lords on 2 December. It will have to go through various other readings and drafts before it becomes law. | The bill will have its second reading in the House of Lords on 2 December. It will have to go through various other readings and drafts before it becomes law. |