Act Now: The Digital Economy Bill Petition
Posted on 17th Mar 2010 at 15:57 by Joe Martin with 53 comments
This is a really quick blog post and it's one which is only really going to be relevant to our readers in the UK, but it's still something everyone should be aware of.
Basically, the UK government is in the process of passing a bill which would regulate how UK residents might be able to use the internet. It's called the Digital Economy Bill and you don't need to take a very close look at it to see that it's full of problems - not least of which is the hazy language and poorly defined punishments suggested for alleged illegal downloaders within the UK.
Here's an example. The bill proposes that if you download illegal, copyright infringing files then your internet will be cut off. How do the government know you are downloading illegal files? Because your ISP will be obligated to monitor everything you access and download, then share it with copyright holders. Clever people could probably find a way to avoid detection, but that only complicates things.
As RockPaperShotgun (who finally provoked me into writing about it) also point out, the bill is being pushed through parliament too quickly because of the impending general election. It's hazy definitions would then allow the government to decide what constitutes filesharing exactly and to define what the responsibilities of ISPs and copyright holders would be after the bill has passed.
That's not just silly, it's completely wrong.
Don't misunderstand me (and bit-tech/CustomPC). Everyone in the office is totally against copyright infringement. I work daily alongside people who are affected by game piracy and we've had our own content pilfered by others in the past too. I know that eventually steps must be taken to try and change the situation - but it's important not to rush into things just because the country is in a tight spot financially and the entertainment industry is getting all huffy.
If you feel the same then there are things you can do. You can educate yourself - RPS point to this nice little summary from GameLaw and I'll add in the official parliament website, which monitors the progress of the bill through government.
You can also petition against the bill via your local MP. There's a quick online petition at 38Degrees that automatically finds the right person for you to nag and lets you send them a letter. That's what I've done and it's what I'd suggest you all do too - that, and let me know your thoughts in the forums, naturally.
Basically, the UK government is in the process of passing a bill which would regulate how UK residents might be able to use the internet. It's called the Digital Economy Bill and you don't need to take a very close look at it to see that it's full of problems - not least of which is the hazy language and poorly defined punishments suggested for alleged illegal downloaders within the UK.
Here's an example. The bill proposes that if you download illegal, copyright infringing files then your internet will be cut off. How do the government know you are downloading illegal files? Because your ISP will be obligated to monitor everything you access and download, then share it with copyright holders. Clever people could probably find a way to avoid detection, but that only complicates things.
As RockPaperShotgun (who finally provoked me into writing about it) also point out, the bill is being pushed through parliament too quickly because of the impending general election. It's hazy definitions would then allow the government to decide what constitutes filesharing exactly and to define what the responsibilities of ISPs and copyright holders would be after the bill has passed.
That's not just silly, it's completely wrong.
Don't misunderstand me (and bit-tech/CustomPC). Everyone in the office is totally against copyright infringement. I work daily alongside people who are affected by game piracy and we've had our own content pilfered by others in the past too. I know that eventually steps must be taken to try and change the situation - but it's important not to rush into things just because the country is in a tight spot financially and the entertainment industry is getting all huffy.
If you feel the same then there are things you can do. You can educate yourself - RPS point to this nice little summary from GameLaw and I'll add in the official parliament website, which monitors the progress of the bill through government.
You can also petition against the bill via your local MP. There's a quick online petition at 38Degrees that automatically finds the right person for you to nag and lets you send them a letter. That's what I've done and it's what I'd suggest you all do too - that, and let me know your thoughts in the forums, naturally.
53 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyNo, do it yourself :p
I'm guessing you meant 'sent', not 'send', but I couldn't resist
Just a note to let you know I really do not believe there will be enough time to do so before the election.
Kind regards
Geraldine Smith
To put this into context, my email asked for it not to rushed in before the next election
No, we didn't. If you check the official Parliament website (which is linked in the article) then you'll see it's only just had it's first reading.
It'll be interesting if I get a response.
"the internet is a series of tubes"
It's been read three times.
In the House of Lords, yes. But it has been read only once in the House of Commons.
Still, the reply was, in it's entirety, "Thanks- I will look at and get back to you soon "
Not much faith if I'm honest.
One thing to note is that if you leave it as a stock email you are highly likely to have it deleted as a simple chain letter. If you re-write it, whilst maintaining the sentiment, they are near-guaranteed to read it. ;)
I love this video (on the subject):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_P4lJD_OPI
Very funny!
labour are unfit for purpose.
I full believe that piracy can hurt the media industries, however, the hardcore pirates will easily find a way around things and this bill seems far too roughly thrown together for my liking.
My worry is that the politicians putting this bill through wont properly understand what it means. They'll just be told by the media execs that 'piracy is bad, millions of lost sales' etc etc and pass it through without actually questioning it.
Fingers crossed some more companies speak out about it. Policy is supposed to be for the people, not for the corporations.
Apparently the Lib-Dems are opposing it so if you have an MP from Team Yellow it's definitely worth giving them a nudge and letting them know they'd have your support at the General Election if they are willing to stand up for us.
No, the Lib Dems are against the most of it.
http://www.libdems.org.uk/policy_motions_detail.aspx?title=Emergency_Motion:_Freedom,_Creativity_and_the_Internet_-_carried&pPK=e22de4e4-eebf-41b6-b671-11669fe9c81d
Thank you for your recent email concerning the Digital economy bill.
Angela would like to take up your case however, due to strict parliamentary protocol she needs a copy of your address before she can take up any action on your behalf. Could I therefore please ask for your address?
Yours Sincerely
James Chadwick
Office of Angela Smith MP for Sheffield Hillsborough
Is this bullsh1t and she wants to come round and say hello?
Course Mandys constituents seem to include Sony et al by that logic....
See this actually annoys me he's not even an elected MP so how come he's making policy decisions. The git should either stand for election and drop the lordship of just sod off.
Dear Mr _,
Thank you for contacting me about the Digital Economy Bill.
For nearly twelve years, the Government has neglected this crucial area of our economy. I believe a huge amount needs to be done to give the UK a modern regulatory environment for the digital and creative industries. Whilst we welcome aspects of the bill there are, however, other areas of great concern to me.
Conservatives want to make sure that Britain has the most favourable intellectual framework in the world for innovators, digital content creators and high tech businesses. We recognise the need to tackle digital piracy and make it possible for people to buy and sell digital intellectual property online. However, it is vital that any anti-piracy measures promote new business models rather than holding innovation back. This must not be about propping up existing business models but creating an environment that allows new ones to develop. That is why we were opposed to the original clause 17 and are still opposed to clause 29 which props up ITV regional news with BBC Licence Fee payers money.
The Government’s failure to introduce the Bill until the eleventh hour of this Parliament has given rise to considerable concern from people such as yourself that we no longer have the time to scrutinise the many controversial and detailed measures outlined in their proposals and I fully appreciate these concerns. However in certain areas, including measures to allow website blocking in certain carefully proscribed circumstances, there has been substantial debate in the House of Lords. I do, however, believe they should also be debated in the House of Commons before we agree to them. Only if we are confident that they have been given the scrutiny that they deserve will Conservatives support them
It is also worth pointing out that many of the fears about the Bill’s proposals are not entirely accurate. People won’t be disconnected from the internet without due process. And it will only be a small minority of people who consistently infringe copyright who are disconnected, not the average person who happens to have done so once or twice. Even then, they may be able to reconnect using another ISP immediately and without penalty.
Please rest assured that my colleagues in the Shadow Culture, Media and Sport and Shadow Business, Innovation and Skills teams will do everything in their power to work towards legislation that strengthens our digital sector and provides the security that our businesses and consumers so desperately need.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
James Paice MP
My main concern with this is "People won’t be disconnected from the internet without due process". How exactly do you prove something like this beyond doubt?
Mandelson, the lizard, is unstoppable though. :(
I don't have stolen goods coming through my my mail..but I'll be buggered if I'd let Royal Mail open all my post to check first. This is no different. It's against my rights. It's an invasion of privacy. And it won't stop piracy at all. Everyone will just use more encryption ect..
For those that are interested: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldbills/044/10044.i-iii.html
yeah I thought so too.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e306/simonc8788/scan.jpg
But, eventually (if there isn't a zombie apocalypse in the meantime) i see most of countries in the world adopting a similar policy. Its simple mathematics, people who want the laws have money - politicians wants money.
And as for the part of the article that goes:
"Don't misunderstand me (and bit-tech/CustomPC). Everyone in the office is totally against copyright infringement. I work daily alongside people who are affected by game piracy and we've had our own content pilfered by others in the past too."
I respect that, and don't want to discuss the subject of piracy, but while the situation in the UK/US is what it is, things are a bit different in other parts of the world... i have family scattered in a bunch of countries and most of them would look at you like you're crazy when you ask them if their programs are "originals"
Democracy in action i love it.
Me too.
My MP, Rob Wilson of Reading, sent out two letters (identical) to interested consituents saying he would oppose the bill. He also tweeted to that effect.
And then, from what I've learned, he didn't even show up to the debate.