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UK ISPs unhappy at sharing the bill for curbing illegal downloads
14 Sep 2010 | 15.34 Europe/London
The Internet Service Providers Assocation, which represents British ISPs, today announced its disappointment that its members will be expected to pay for a quarter of the cost of implementing the Digital Economy Act.
The Act is designed to help rights holders clamp down on illegal file sharing and, today, the British coalition Government announced that, although rights holders will bear three quarters of the associated costs, ISPs will be required to pay for the remaining quarter.
The costs involved will include detecting and notifying those suspected of illegal file sharing as well as holding appeals. Today’s announcement has assured British web users that it will be free to appeal against any proposed action (which could ultimately include disconnection).
Ed Vaizey, Minister for Communications commented: “The Digital Economy Act serves to reduce online copyright infringement through a fair and robust process and at the same time provides breathing space to develop better business models for consumers who buy music, films and books online.
“We expect the measures will benefit our creative economy by some £200m per year and as rights holders are the main beneficiaries of the system, we believe our decision on costs is proportionate to everyone involved.”
However, ISPA believes its member ISPs should not be expected to pay the cost of protecting a third party’s digital assets. Its Secretary General, Nicholas Lansman, commented, "ISPA has consistently argued for the beneficiary pays principle and is disappointed with today's announcement. Full cost recovery for serious law enforcement cases is an established rule and ISPA sees no reason why it should not be the case here.”
The ruling will come in to force during the first half of next year.
The Act is designed to help rights holders clamp down on illegal file sharing and, today, the British coalition Government announced that, although rights holders will bear three quarters of the associated costs, ISPs will be required to pay for the remaining quarter.
The costs involved will include detecting and notifying those suspected of illegal file sharing as well as holding appeals. Today’s announcement has assured British web users that it will be free to appeal against any proposed action (which could ultimately include disconnection).
Ed Vaizey, Minister for Communications commented: “The Digital Economy Act serves to reduce online copyright infringement through a fair and robust process and at the same time provides breathing space to develop better business models for consumers who buy music, films and books online.
“We expect the measures will benefit our creative economy by some £200m per year and as rights holders are the main beneficiaries of the system, we believe our decision on costs is proportionate to everyone involved.”
However, ISPA believes its member ISPs should not be expected to pay the cost of protecting a third party’s digital assets. Its Secretary General, Nicholas Lansman, commented, "ISPA has consistently argued for the beneficiary pays principle and is disappointed with today's announcement. Full cost recovery for serious law enforcement cases is an established rule and ISPA sees no reason why it should not be the case here.”
The ruling will come in to force during the first half of next year.