UK politicians want to ban filesharers from the internet at random, no trial needed

[AiR]

Freshly out of the worlds number one big brother society comes a bill from a man who likes wearing silly furs, Lord Mandelson (in Swedish, Son of Almond Nut) who want to ban file sharers from the internet without evidence or a trial.

Short story

The UK government will take steps that will exclude persistent downloaders of content from connecting to the internet, it confirmed today.

The UK business secretary, Lord [Peter] Mandelson said that the UK would pass legislation to cut off people as a last resort. Before cut off, individuals would receive warnings that their activities had been detected and warned to cease and desist.
Although the government has been contemplating such measures for some months, the legislation is unlikely to come into effect until spring of 2011.

And a general election has to take place in the UK by Spring of next year, meaning that if the UK Labour Party fails to achieve re-election, such legislation may well be thwarted.

Mandelson said he didn't expect "mass suspensions". People will get two warnings and even if they get cut off, they will have the right to appeal.

The proposals have the backing of the major music and film corporations, but face opposition from British ISPs.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/44457/118/

Long story

Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, warned internet users today that the days of "consequence-free" illegal filesharing are over as he unveiled the government's plan for cracking down on online piracy.

Mandelson, speaking at the government's digital creative industries conference, C&binet, confirmed that the internet connections of persistent offenders could be blocked – but only as a last resort – from the summer of 2011.

He added that a "legislate and enforce" strategy was the only way to protect the intellectual property rights of content producers.

The strategy, which will be officially set out in the government's digital economy bill in late November, will involve a staged process of warning notifications with internet suspension as a last resort.

"It must become clear that the days of consequence-free widespread online infringement are over," Mandelson said. "Technical measures will be a last resort and I have no expectation of mass suspensions resulting."

The legislation is expected to come into force in April next year.

The effectiveness of the warning letters to persistent illegal filesharers will be monitored for the first 12 months. If illegal filesharing has not dropped by 70% by April 2011, then cutting off people's internet connections could be introduced three months later, from the summer of that year.

"If we reach the point of suspension for an individual, they will be informed in advance, having previously received two notifications – and will have the opportunity to appeal," Mandelson added. "The British government's view is that taking people's work without due payment is wrong and that, as an economy based on creativity, we cannot sit back and do nothing as this happens."

Mandelson said that the strategy was a "proportionate measure that will give people ample awareness and opportunity to stop breaking the rules". "The threat for persistent individuals is, and has to be, real, or no effective deterrent to breaking the law will be in place," he added.

There would be a "proper route of appeal" for those that do have their internet accounts suspended, Mandelson said. He added that he did not want to see internet service providers "unfairly burdened" by the new system.

"ISPs and rights-holders will share the costs, on the basis of a flat fee that will allow both sides to budget and plan," he said.

The staged roll-out of the strategy will see Ofcom assess the effectiveness of the warning notification system on cutting illegal filesharing, backed by the threat of legal action by rights holders and content companies, in about April 2011.

If the 70% reduction is not achieved the use of technical measures to cut off persistent offenders' web access will be introduced by about July 2011.

Should this system be introduced repeat offenders will be warned they are infringing and then, in a second letter, told that technical measures could be implemented. Further infringement will lead to the offenders' names being put on a "serious infringers list", with ISPs then "obliged to exercise technical measures".

No timetable was given by the government for the speed with which the process can progress from a warning letter to internet suspension.

When infringers are informed that they face having their internet access suspended, they will have 20 working days to appeal to an independent body, to be established by Ofcom. The suspension will not come into force until the appeal has been heard.

If the first appeal is unsuccessful the infringer can lodge a second appeal within 20 working days.

Cutting off illegal filesharers' internet access was originally ruled out in Lord Carter's Digital Britain report released in June.

However, in August Mandelson's department for business innovation and skills launched a consultation document that proposed considering taking a tougher stance, including suspending internet connections.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...rs-connections


My UK friends, it's election time soon. I'll just leave this here.

[nomix]

I believe this can best be summed up with a video and a picture.

+ YouTube Video

[Dr_Q]

The key to this issue is that the ISPs themselves don't want to be doing this, it's not their job to be upholding such laws, it would just cost too much to do. The last thing they want to be doing is spending time and effort finding out information that could potentially lose them a customer. Where's the motivation? I can see ISPs turning a blind eye on all but the most serious of incidents.

[epp_b]

I have a better idea. Every time a business or government official baselessly accuses someone of "downloading content illegally", their Internet connection -- today's connection to freedom of speech and freedom of the press -- gets cut off.

[ViperVX]

This file sharing problem has a couple of solutions, none of which, as far as i know, been used by pirates.

1. Sharing is in the Bible, i.e. in human nature. I just want to hear TBP's attorney read a passage from the Bible, then RIAA guys step in and say that God's deeds do not apply to modern world.

2. If the studies about pirates buying more actual product are correct, they should simply protest by not buying anything, not going to the movies and so on so forth, for 2-3 months, just let sales drop 10-20%.

[NooDle]

good luck with that UK Politicians!

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by nomix

Random OT: can I get that design on an apron? That would be fairly epic.

Edit: never mind, I found it...

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Random OT: can I get that design on an apron? That would be fairly epic.

I would start wearing an apron, just so I could wear that apron.

Edit: LINK DAMNIT!

Edit2: Hahaha, you and your re-re-edits. Must spread more aprons before giving tasty food to BlaRo again, etc.

[killpanda]

Originally Posted by NooDle

good luck with that UK Politicians!

If I understand correctly, this is quite similar to what has just passed in France. Funny thing is, I believe it's not compatible with the EU but that doesn't seem to stop French politicians. Oh and the first report and first law text (which was refused and modified heavily one time) was written by a very big shop owner in France, who also is a big friend of our king president.

[Cobol74]

UK electing crap Politicians since 26th. May 1955.

[MacGuffin]

It has become a routine, that politicians create stupid laws, which are later cashed again by the courts.

How stupid can you get?

Too bad we do not have the Pirate Party in our parliament, because next time some conservative politician grouches about the internet and/or computer games again, I'd like to see an MP asking him publically to explain what a browser is, or what TCP/IP means.

[Cobol74]

All one has to do is to explain to them it is exactly like the phone company listening in to your phone call in-case you say something nasty then they come and take your phone away, or you stay on the phone for too long.

[killpanda]

You should have seen the secretary in charge of the text trying to explain herself that they had the OpenOffice firewall in the minister... it was hilarious and painful at the same time. And then an interview of the people in charge of VOTING the law were given the opportunity to explain what is this "peer-to-peer" thing they seem to be against... Not one was able to...

[epp_b]

^ DO WANT VIDEO

EDIT:

http://www.nabble.com/OpenOffice.org...d22832353.html

Video, if you understand French.

[killpanda]

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

Enjoy

[MacGuffin]

That reminds me of the interview, where former German chancelor Helmut Kohl was asked for his opinion about the data highway. In an annoyed manner, he told the interviewer to ask that question the minister of transport

[TBoneUs]

Sorry for not understanding. But in this case what body is incharge of actually looking for the illegal traffic. Is it like in the US where the RIAA sends out notices, and this new law would allow them to pull your plug if you got too many? Or is it supposed to be the ISP's that decide what is legal/illegal traffic?

[Cobol74]

It will be the one that is most stupid, costly and prone to getting the wrong person/connection.

[Plissken]

Despite the fact that the Her Majestys Opposition are either a shower, batshit mental or rampaging fuckwits, I am seriously looking forward to seeing Mandelson kicked out on his arse next year.

"I am a fighter, not a quitter. I am..."
"Out of a job, mate."

[efoolution]

I love the fact that some people will now start to think that voting for the Conservative Party will stop such a law/rule because this comes from the labour-camp right now.

I can ensure you, that the conservatives have that on their agenda too ...