The Digital Economy Act 2010 -

An Introduction

Illegal music downloaders may have their Internet cut off and face prosecution if they persistently break the law.                               

Although the new act compliments the 1988 Copyright Designs and Parents Act, it puts pressure on ISPs to closely monitor the nations Internet activities, which could bring us a step closer to Orwell’s 1984 nation. 

“I think the act is a retrograde step, certainly it would change particularly online media so that photographs and written content would lose it’s copyright,” said Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate Mark Formosa.

Whilst some disagree with the act, others believe it’s a step forward. HMV spokesperson Gennaro Castaldo:

“We believe the digital economy act will have an impact, as for the first time it creates a fair and reasonable sanction against wholesale abuse of intellectual property, and in particular it places responsibility on the ISPs to manage use of content they make available on their sites. The act has our support.”

The 2010 act aims to protect areas of the music industry and copyright owners in order to receive the royalties they are rightfully due. It is controversial, and has been met with fierce criticism by some industry professionals and consumer rights groups [often over issues in freedom of expression and privacy]. The Bill was not strongly debated in the Commons but instead pushed through with a minimal of MPs showing up for the third and final reading.

The Digital Act was drafted in Bill form as a result of the Digital Britain report in June 2009 and was announced in the Queen’s Speech the same year.  

The Bill largely supported by the Tory front bench was presented to the House of Commons for its first reading on 16 March 2010 and the second on the 6 April. 

On the 8th April 2010 Royal assent was granted where the Bill became an act of Parliament.

Concerns have been expressed by ISPs [Internet Service Providers], universities and businesses that offer public WiFi connections, raising the issue of responsibility for illegally downloading content.

Continuous copyright infringement could mean disconnection or suspension of service; this could mean the end of public Internet, which perhaps is going against the grain of the government’s support in getting the nation connected.