by Alec Muffett
Sigh. Here we go again…
BBC NEWS | Technology | ISPs could face piracy sanctions
Internet service providers must take concrete steps to curb illegal downloads or face legal sanctions, the government has said.The proposal is aimed at tackling the estimated 6m UK broadband users who download files illegally every year.
The culture secretary said consultation would begin in spring and legislation could be implemented “by April 2009”.
I suspect this is not going to be the best way
for the recording industry to tackle this problem. Moving the industry “problem” from their own sturdy frame, onto the shoulders of unrelated third-parties?
I’m guessing that the penalty of last resort is the “removal” of internet services to any presumed persistent “offenders”. Outside even a discussion of the technical limitations of any method to detect and remove, I anticipate several implementation difficulties. For example, we ought to view the supply of the internet as a utility as important as gas,electricity or water. There are many contractural safeguards put in place to protect the consumers of these such utilities. Aside
from refusal to pay when means are able, I’m
not sure what constitutes fair reason for removal of
domestic water supplies, for instance.
Does it not also apply to internet access?
My hunch is that the industry is looking for a “tax:” on internet access?
While I would agree that internet access should definitely not be considered a luxury, I am not so sure it can yet be considered as important as energy/water utilities. It certainly is not protected in the same way at present AFAIK
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