UK Music Industry Coalition Calls For New Charge On ISPs

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

17 July 2006

A coalition of groups representing the UK music industry has called for the introduction of a 'Value Recognition Right', to be imposed on ISPs which 'profit' from illegal file sharing.

The proposed Right would be in the form of a license fee, to be paid to rights holders by ISPs and other intermediaries to compensate for the file-sharing activities of their customers.

At a meeting in London last Wednesday, at which the BPI was notable by its absence, bodies including the Association of Independent Music and the Musicians' Union explained in a joint statement that:

"Presently music creators are not being paid when their music is distributed over unauthorised file-sharing networks. At the same time, consumers are being sued for infringing copyright when they use such services."

"Between the two, sit digital operators (such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), mobile companies and device manufacturers) that profit extensively and reap wider value from the unauthorised distribution of music whilst being protected from liability by a series of legal immunities and safe harbours."

Proposals regarding the levy are expected to be submitted to the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property later this year.

However, the suggestion has, not unexpectedly, been angrily condemned by ISPs and digital rights groups.

Commenting on the matter to the UK media last week, Suw Charman of the Open Rights Group slammed the proposed charge as "ill-conceived and grasping"

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