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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."

3 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. I don't share files. by Amphetam1ne · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I just leech them off usenet and the free filehosts.

    --
    I only buy pepper spray that's been tested on anti-vivisectionists.
  2. Why Don't They Cut Off the Botnets First? by Mansing · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Start the the "users" that are already breaking the law ....

  3. Wrong focus at the wrong time by gilesjuk · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Today on the news there was a story about a 90 year old widow who was beaten and mugged on the way to a visit of her husbands grave to lay flowers.

    Why on earth can such sick things happen and it doesn't get Police resources yet a media mogul can have a nice dinner party with Lord Mandy and all of a sudden resources are found to tackle online file sharing?

    This world is seriously messed up when unauthorised non-commercial sharing of copyright media is more important than the safety of the public. Politicians need to focus on serving the public, not big businesses.