The government's culture man Andy Burnham has again told the music industry that illegal downloading is an international problem and that he was ready to travel the world to talk to his counterparts in other governments to see what could be done to combat the rise of online piracy. Which is very nice of him. And for him. Less so for his carbon footprint.
Having made various implied promises last year of new laws to force UK internet service providers to in turn crackdown on illegal file sharers - promises his colleagues IP Minister David Lammy and Comms Minister Stephen Carter seem less than keen to deliver on - Burnham has been stressing the international dimension of the piracy problem for a few months now.
Of course he's right that file-sharing is a global problem that crosses borders and jurisdictions, though I can't help thinking the sudden prioritising of tackling this problem globally is a bit of a distraction to hide the fact that the government isn't actually that keen to force ISPs to do anything when it comes to piracy, especially if it involves cutting off voters' internet connections in the run up to a General Election.
Anyway, according to Music Week, at a UK Music hosted event this week Burnham reaffirmed his commitment to discussing anti-piracy measures with culture ministers around the world, adding that he has already spoken to political types in the US and across Europe about the issue.
He also said he would continue to lobby for an extension of the recording copyright when it comes up for discussion at the EU Council Of Ministers, though, of course, the aforementioned Lammy is set on a 70 year term conditional on measures to boost the revenue incomes of musicians over labels, which isn't necessarily the aim of the label men who were at the Westminster gathering this week, who want 95 years and as few commitments to give up royalties to featured artists and session musicians as possible.
In return for his European lobbying and world travel, Burnham asked the industry types and artists at the event do more to help youngsters get a leg up in the industry through apprenticeships, which I think is a way of reducing unemployment figures, but don't quote me on that.
The amassed industry types clapped, I think. Bring on the revolution I say. Apparently it might start just down the road from CMU's on-the-edge-of-the-City HQ this weekend, so I'm looking forward to it.