The computer games industry is key to the future economic success of Scotland and will continue to support jobs and innovation in Dundee, UK Minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms will say today at a visit to Abertay University.
The university is at the centre of the successful computer games industry in Dundee and has produced some of the leading lights in companies like Realtime Worlds and Digital Goldfish, both set up by Abertay alumni.
Stephen Timms is visiting the University to meet staff and students on their undergraduate and postgraduate industry accredited computer games courses.
The University’s video games centre of excellence is receiving £2.5 million of investment from the UK government to help it expand. The project – with the new specialist games facilities being developed in Manchester – aims to create 30 new companies, assist 80 others and stimulate up to 400 new jobs nationwide.
Digital Britain Minister, Stephen Timms said:
“Scotland has rich heritage when it comes to computer games. Some of the world’s most iconic games – like Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings – have been developed around Dundee.
“This new investment will strengthen Abertay University as a centre of excellence for the games industry. Investing now means that firms can start to build and grow for the future.”
The UK government is actively working alongside the market to capitalise on new opportunities in emerging technologies and sectors. The games industry is one such sector of the economy.
Stephen Timms will also be meeting finalists from the University , who have entered the international ‘Dare to be Digital’ competition. This competition is open to students from across the UK.
Students work in teams of five for ten weeks to come up with ideas for new games and then take the ideas through the entire design process. The competition offers real world experience of games development for those taking part and boosts the numbers of talented graduates for the industry.
Original press release: Games means jobs
(Download this as a PDF)
Dear Colleague,
During the earlier debates in Committee it became clear that the issue of how the proposals in the Bill might impact on libraries, wi-fi providers and universities was one which caused some concern. I undertook to provide the House with more information, both on the current position in these establishments and on how they might be affected by these proposals.
I attach a factsheet (PDF) on this which I will ensure is made publically available, given the level of interest in this issue. I hope the note is self explanatory, but I would like to highlight a few of the main points.
There are measures that all establishments can take to tackle infringement. ISPs can and do provide a great deal of advice, information and help. Our intention is that the code should formally require ISPs to provide generic advice and information on how to tackle infringement as well as how to protect a wireless connection/network and that such advice is appropriate for the establishment in question. We will add a requirement in the Bill under clause 8 that this is a provision that the code must include.
For universities (and other academic and educational establishments as well as commercial businesses) it is very clear that there is no one model of internet access they offer. Similarly the process and procedures in place for dealing with infringements differ. Many of the larger establishments provide services to other parts of the public sector – hospitals, research centres etc –or to private sector commercial operations. Some universities do have in place very strict procedures to address infringement with some very stiff penalties. Others do not.
Each establishment must look at its own position and how the Bill will impact upon it, then consider this guidance and what action to take.
Similarly, there are a number of different models in libraries but these share some general characteristics. The bulk of internet access in libraries is currently provided through fixed library terminals. This makes tackling infringement much simpler to the extent that it is unlikely that significant use is made of libraries fixed networks for infringement.
Where libraries offer wireless access (which is available more and more in public libraries) it is harder to tackle infringement, especially at the higher levels of bandwidth but there are still steps that they can take to limit infringement.
The factsheet sets out the position for libraries, universities and wi-fi providers in more detail and gives a guide to how we anticipate the Bill affecting each type of establishment.
As I said during the debate, we cannot simply give a blanket exemption to such establishments – this would in effect give carte blanche to infringement and would attract infringers to exploit these spaces. Instead, we see a pragmatic approach as the best way forward using three elements:
- existing action,
- information and advice, and;
- the independent appeals body.
Many establishments already take effective action and there is no reason why such existing arrangements cannot be continued. However, in the event that an establishment finds themselves on the infringers list, they will then have two options:
- they could wait for any legal action to be brought against them and pursue their case in court, or;
- they could take pre-emptive action, take their case to the independent body and seek to be removed from the infringers list.
The body would consider each case on its merits and provided the university or library had followed the advice from their ISP and taken reasonable steps to address infringement, only in exceptional circumstances would we anticipate the appeal failing.
There is the potential for the code to offer some flexibility and reflect the particular positions of libraries and the like. Ofcom will consult on the code in due course which will then need Government and Parliamentary approval. However, it will be for universities, libraries etc to make their case during code discussions and I would therefore urge them to look closely at how they might be affected and to engage with copyright owners and ISPs as soon as possible.
Finally I should stress this note was prepared in response to issues raised during the Committee Stage debate. I realise that it will however receive a wider readership including those in academia, education as well as business and who may want some general advice and information about what measures they might take. I therefore include a short note which I hope will provide a top-level guide.
LORD YOUNG
