Illicit P2P File-Sharing Legislation Ahead

A consultation has been announced into legislative approach for addressing the problem of illicit use of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing technology to exchange unlawful copies of copyright material.

Running from today to the 19th September 2009 it invites comments from interested parties on its proposals including obligations on ISPs :

•  to notify alleged infringers of rights (subject to reasonable levels of proof from rights-holders) that their conduct is unlawful; and

•  to collect anonymised information on serious repeat infringers (derived from their notification activities), to be made available to rights-holders together with personal details on receipt of a court order.

The consultation is being run by Lord Mandelson’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. In related news the same Department announced the appointment of Martha Lane Fox as the New Champion for Digital Inclusion. Ms Lane Fox will take up her post on June 22 for a period of two years.

[ Consultation ]

Tags: Digital Britain, Digital Inclusion, Legislation, P2P, piracy