Music industry criticises Digital Britain report

Thu Jun 18 2009, 11:10 AM UTC+01:00

Rights organisation UK Music says the government's Digital Britain report does not go far enough in its efforts to stamp out music piracy, and is calling for firmer suspension orders for illegal file-sharers.

Responding to the 245-page white paper report, which was published earlier this week, UK Music says the proposals will not be enough to meet its own target of reducing file-sharing by between 70% and 80% in the next two to three years.   

"The UK Music industry fully embraces the principle of universal broadband. However, against the undoubted commercial opportunities this would bring, our members cannot continue to innovate and invest in the shadow of an illegal peer-to-peer ecosystem," says UK Music CEO and former Undertones lead singer, Feargal Sharkey. "To tackle this issue, we need the cooperation of all ISPs."

Putting forward its own five-point proposal, the industry body calls for ISPs to send a warning letter to first-time illegal file-sharers. For a second offence, UK Music argues that users should be redirected to an online identification page where they are forced to identify themselves and take responsibility for their internet account. The offender’s internet service speed should then be reduced for a week.

The third time someone is caught file-sharing, UK Music recommends an ISP-imposed, 72-hour internet suspension. This will increase to a month and then two months for fourth or fifth-time offences.

“We would like to see action now," says Sharkey, pointing to legal and free-to-consumer alternatives to peer-to-peer sharing, such as Spotify, We7 and a recently announced unlimited download service from Virgin Media and Universal Music. "There are more licensed download services in the UK than any country in Europe. I am certain there will be even more in the coming weeks, months and years.”

UK Music's severe recommendations go much further than the government's proposals, which shy away from disconnecting file-sharers. The Digital Britain report instead suggests that Ofcom should be charged with trying to curb illegal downloads, requiring ISPs to send warning letters and collect anonymised data on repeat downloaders. This data would be made available to rights holders should they wish to pursue legal proceedings.

The government suggests that further action such as bandwidth throttling, or site blocks, should only be imposed if its notification policy fails to reduce total downloads by 70%.

The government is now due to begin a consultation process with rights holders, ISPs and industry bodies, with a final decision on piracy policy due in September. UK Music claims its proposals will "set the ball rolling" and is looking forward to talking to its industry partners.

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