Plans to force internet providers to block sites carrying pirated music and films “threaten freedom of speech and the open internet”, the largest internet and telecom companies operating in the UK said.
In a letter published in the Financial Times on Wednesday, Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Ebay, along with the UK’s largest internet service providers, object to an amendment to the digital economy bill passed with support from the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives last week. The companies argue that the rules, if they become law, would fail to tackle copyright infringement as intended.
To read this report in The Financial Times in full, see: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4545c4e0-2bb9-11df-a5c7-00144feabdc0.html
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Bill will censor internet, providers claim The UK’s largest internet service providers have fired a broadside at last-minute changes to a law dealing with copyright piracy on the internet, condemning the measures as “dangerous” and “unworkable”.
They are calling for all parties to scrap a surprise amendment to the government’s digital economy bill, which was passed by the House of Lords last week. The changes would give TV and music companies the right to demand that internet service providers block access to websites that host pirated material. www.ft.com/cms/s/0/01d4b400-28a8-11df-b86f-00144feabdc0.html
Letter to the editor: Bill threatens UK’s reputation Sir, We regret that the House of Lords adopted amendment 120A to the digital economy bill (”Bill will censor internet, providers claim”, March 6). This amendment not only significantly changes the injunctions procedure in the UK but will lead to an increase in internet service providers blocking websites accused of illegally hosting copyrighted material without cases even reaching a judge. The amendment seeks to address the legitimate concerns of rights-holders but would have unintended consequences that far outweigh any benefits it could bring. www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9cd79f4c-2ba7-11df-a5c7-00144feabdc0.html
Illegal file-sharing policy criticised by BT boss Plans to suspend the internet accounts of people who download music illegally are unfair, according to the head of Britain’s biggest telecoms firm.
British Telecom’s chief executive, Ian Livingston, says illegal file-sharers should be fined rather than have their internet accounts cut off. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8559059.stm
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