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BPI not impressed with IP Minister’s comments
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 27 January 2009
Needless to say really, record label trade body the BPI wasn’t thrilled by those previously reported comments made by the UK’s Intellectual Property Minister David Lammy and printed in The Times yesterday.
As previously reported, Lammy told the paper that he didn’t think the government could introduce laws to force ISPs to cut off persistent file sharers – as some have suggested should happen – because such measures would be wrapped up in legal problems.
But perhaps more worryingly for those who advocate new laws to force net firms to take a more proactive role in policing online piracy, he implied he wasn’t completely convinced about the need for legislation to combat filesharing, telling the paper: “We can’t have a system where we’re talking about arresting teenagers in their bedrooms. People can rent a room in an hotel and leave with a bar of soap – there’s a big difference between leaving with a bar of soap and leaving with the television”.
Responding to Lammy’s remarks, the BPI’s Director Of Public Affairs Richard Mollet told Billboard: “British music creators are sure to be insulted at the analogy between British music and complimentary soap from hotels. It shows an incredible lack of understanding [of the relationship] between music and illegal file-sharing from the minister in charge of intellectual property”.
He added that the idea anyone was proposing teenagers be arrested in their bedrooms misrepresented what the record companies are lobbying for in terms of legislative help in combating piracy. Mollet: “We are appalled to see him falsely raising the prospect of arresting people in their bedrooms and fail to see what place this has in the discussion”.
Given indications of support for the music business in its fight against illegal filesharing by Culture Minister Andy Burnham in the last year, the fact the government man actually responsible for copyright law review seems less supportive is a bit of a blow for the industry.
As previously reported, Lammy’s comments preceded the publication of Digital Britain, a new report expected this week which will give the government’s view on policing copyright online.
The government has previously indicated that if the record companies and internet service providers can’t reach a voluntary agreement regarding the latter assisting the former to protect its copyrights then they would introduce laws to force them.
It’s not clear if the report will give any more detail on what the government feels the ISPs should be obligated to do, though it’s thought it won’t propose the three strike system being put in place in France, whereby illegal filesharers who ignore two warnings about their activity will have their internet connection cut off.
It will, though, probably propose the establishment of an independent body to coordinate action against online piracy, similar to that in the process of being established in France, though probably with less actual powers. Said body may well sit within or under media regulator OfCom.
