Music pirates will not be disconnected from the internet

[DaBees-Knees]

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5586761.ece

Internet service providers will not be forced to disconnect users who repeatedly flout the law by illegally sharing music and video files, The Times has learnt. Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, said last year that the Government had “serious legislative intent” to compel internet companies to cut off customers who ignore warnings not to pirate material. However, in an interview with The Times, David Lammy, the Intellectual Property Minister, said that the Government had ruled out legislating to force ISPs to disconnect such users. Speaking ahead of the publication of a report on the future of Britain's digital industries, Mr Lammy said that there were very complex legal issues wrapped up in enforced disconnection. He added: “I'm not sure it's actually going to be possible.” Plans to combat internet pirates were stalled after a consultation by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) showed there was no consensus between ISPs and the music industry as to how to deal with the seven million British internet users who share files illegally each year.

Suggestions have emerged that Lord Carter will order the founding of a “rights agency”, funded by a levy on service providers, to address the problem of piracy, or that he may suggest additional charges on customers' broadband bills to compensate the music industry.

ISPs, on the other hand, welcomed the news. British Telecom said: “We're still hopeful that an amicable solution, without the need for legislation, can be reached. It doesn't make sense to try to get people online and at the same time scare them away.”

The point made by the ISP's, that it would remove large numbers of users from the net, seems to be a very valid one. On the other hand starting to charge what would be a tax, on behalf of private companies, will open up a legal bag of worms.

[GhostShip]

The music industry needs to face up to the fact that while many sympathise with their position in regards to commercial piracy there is no reason to attack those who share small low quality sample versions of music on peer to peer nets, those attacked are in most folks eyes those to poor and unable to defend themselves against shoddily malicious legal schemes that benefit no one but lawyers, artists will never see a cent of any damages claim made "on their behalf" by the recording industry and not many artists step forward to say they want people in wheelchairs being dragged to court or demands being sent to the addresses of dead folks as we have already seen, this is the work of the lowest of the low, thankfully the law does not allow for the recording industry to act as judge jury and executioner and that is as has been shown above for a good reason.