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The future of copyright…and P2P

Peter Mandelson is appearing today at the C&binet event. His speech sets out the Government’s intention to put in place a fair and thorough process involving warnings to suspected illicit file sharers, and technical measures to back this up if needed – including account suspension. He also stresses that only persistent rule breakers would be affected.

This of course comes at the end of the consultation period.

Peter Mandelson’s speech acknowledges that the issue has invited strong reactions, and calls for a long term solution in which legislation and enforcement play their part alongside a market which allows consumers to find the deals they want. Education of consumers and new business models are, he argues, equally important.

Alongside proposals on filesharing, the Secretary of State is setting out the case for a modernised copyright regime to reflect the ways people want to use music which don’t damage the sustainability of the music industry, such as format shift and mash-ups. The © The Way Ahead strategy sets out proposals to simplify copyright laws across Europe and beyond.

Update: press release now here.

In the news

As you have no doubt seen by now, ministers are announcing today an update of their thinking on the issue of peer to peer filesharing.

In essence this is a strengthening of the same procedures for letter-writing and warning of those who seem to be illicitly sharing files, but with the tougher ultimate penalty of suspension of service and retaining the ability for ministers to decide when ‘technical measures’ (ie enforcement through the broadband service of the offender) can be introduced. The overall objective of providing a legitimate framework for dissemination of content in a way consumers want and at the right price remains firmly in place.

This has been one of the most difficult issues to navigate, and we’re not at the end of the process yet (the consultation is still open and has been extended). We’ll undoubtedly see more debate as we put the Bill through Parliament. In the mean time, we’re happy to hear reactions…