Illegal File Sharers Won't Be Disconnected, Says UK Government Minister

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

29 January 2009

Internet Service Providers in the United Kingdom will not be given the right to disconnect individuals illegally sharing music files online, a government minister has revealed.

UK Intellectual Property Minister, David Lammy, told the Times newspaper that the government has discarded a previous proposal which would have allowed broadband providers to terminate the connection of individuals found to be infringing the copyright of digital media via illegal file sharing sites.

The plan would have created a 'blacklist' of known pirates who participate in the download of free music, television programmes and films at the expense of the music and film industry.

However, Lammy has conceded that implementing this move would be extremely complicated, and believes that the measures already in place between ISPs and the music industry will be enough to clamp down on the problem.

The move to allow ISPs to intervene in online copyright infringement has been introduced in New Zealand, though, and has been cautiously welcomed by the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST IiS).

Speaking of the measure, James Craig, Legal Counsel at FAST IiS explained:

“At FAST IiS we favour a three strikes and you’re out policy. This allows a gradual build up of pressure on copyright infringers that ranges from notification of wrongdoing, possible reduction in bandwidth for a second offence, and termination of connection for persistent content thieves.”

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