UK record label trade body the BPI is up for the Villain Of The Year award at the annual awards bash of the Internet Service Providers Association, which take place in London tonight, because of its "heavy handed approach against consumers rather than engaging in constructive dialogue with the internet industry when dealing with filesharing".
The trade association is up against BT Wholesale, the Inland Revenue, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Tory leader David Cameron, the latter of whom's nomination also seems to be a dig at the music business, him being shortlisted for "buddying up with the music industry and trying to appeal to a younger audience".
Obviously the record industry have become increasingly vocal in their bid to make the internet service providers take more responsibility for combating illegal file sharing online - something the ISPs are very keen to not do. The UK government has threatened to legislate in order to force the ISPs to do more if a voluntary agreement with the record labels regarding online copyright infringement cannot be reached. Whether making the BPI 'villain of the year' will help the ISPA reach such an agreement before the end of the year - as politicians want - I'm not sure. One would assume not.