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Proposed UK File-Sharing Laws May Be Illegal, ISPs Upset

Posted by Soulskill on from the don't-tread-on-them dept.

mindbrane writes "Once in a while, a sidebar will throw a lot of light on a difficult problem. The BBC has a short piece on British ISPs' anger over proposed new laws governing file sharing in the UK. The new laws would include cutting repeat offenders off from the Internet. Early response suggests such tactics would fail: '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. ... Talk Talk'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."' The article also mentions a statement issued by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which 'proposes that internet service providers 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.' Unsurprisingly, said rights holders are in favor of the idea."

4 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. UK on a Nanny Binge Today :: Plastic Beer Glasses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    http://www.prisonplanet.com/uk-government-to-ban-glasses-in-pubs.html

    And you guys are worried about what? The internet? Pfff.

    PRIORITIES!!

    Who's to blame here? I wanna blame somebody. Somebody. Anybody.

    As long as I don't have to do anything myself and there is absolutely no risk either.

    Otherwise count me in.

  2. Re:The gap between politicians and reality by damburger · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, there is precedent... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG23bVpw65o

    --
    If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
  3. Re:50:50 cost? by adewolf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't forget the "WOOSH" hammer... :-)

    --
    "The Brady Bunch is back...working homicide"
  4. Re:Why are the UK government getting into this? by Dan541 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Because the UK is not a democracy.

    There are more files sharers than there are content producers, there for in a true democracy file sharing would be legalised.

    --
    An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"