The BBC reports that a UK law firm plans to file at least 15,000 legal demand letters earlier next year against people suspect of file sharing. The letters will threaten lawsuits but offer settlement terms of hundreds of pounds per person.
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Guardian on UK Digital Economy Bill
The Guardian's editorial on the UK bill pulls no punches: The digital economy bill is misnamed. A more honest title for the legislation, recently introduced in the Lords, would be the copyright protection and punishment bill. It is less about creating the digital businesses of the 21st century than protecting […]
Opposition Mounts in Europe To Three-Strikes Proposals
Multiple reports today indicate that opposition is growing in Europe to plans for three-strikes policies that could lead to the termination of Internet access for some subscribers. In the U.K., protests are mounting over those plans in the recently introduced Digital Economy Bill. The BBC reports that thousands of people have signed a petition urging the government to reconsider its approach, while the Open Rights Group says it has seen a big spike in membership. The UK's Internet Service Provider Association has unsurprisingly voiced its opposition, stating "rather than focusing blindly on enforcement, the government should be asking rights holders to reform the licensing framework so that legal content can be distributed online to consumers in a way that they are clearly demanding." The Telegraph reports popular author Stephen Fry has lent his support to opposing the bill, vowing to urge people to sign the petition until a million people have signed on.
Meanwhile, European Union Telecom Commissioner Vivianne Reding has warned Spain against adopting a three-strikes model without a procedure before a judge. Reding added:
Study Finds Downloaders Spend More On Music
A new UK study finds that people who illegally download music also spend more money on music than anyone else. The survey found that those who admit illegally downloading music spent an average of £77 a year on music, which was £33 more than those who claim that they never […]
UK To Introduce Three Strikes Policy
UK Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has announced that his government will go ahead with a three-strikes and you're out policy similar to the one recently introduced in France.