Everyone seems to have a few coins to throw in when the talks are about the Digital Economy Act 2010.
An independent barrister thought the secondary legislation, as it is called, was simply incompatible with Europe’s Authorisation Directive (2002/20/EC), which stated that government officials could only force actions on broadband providers or operators of public communications only under some very specific conditions.
He said:
“It seems to me that the CIR/initial obligations scheme of the Digital Economy Act 2010 is not a “restriction” on the transmission of illegal content, but something quite different. What is more, a requirement to pay fees cannot be a “restriction” even on a fairly relaxed reading of the Directive.”
Other criticisms were also from the Head of Marketing at Entanet, who thought that the act would “penalise” ISPs for simply doing what they were designed to do – provide internet for homes and businesses.
The legislation itself said that tackling “illegal” downloads as well as copyright infringement would be forcing both the Rights Holders (75 per cent) and ISPs (25 per cent) to empty their piggybanks and pay up.
If this act is so heavily criticised, where is the REAL solution to this problem?
Surely, it’s not enough to tell the general public not to download illegally or unlawfully, but is making ISPs somewhat of the internet police really a good idea?