The UK's Intellectual Property Minister David Lammy who, I think it is possibly worth remembering, if only for 19 seconds, once said he thought the three-strikes disconnection approach to combating file-sharing was unworkable and possibly unlawful, has been defending the Peter Mandelson-driven new government policy to introduce measures to combat file-sharing that basically amount to the, erm, three-strikes disconnection approach. Oh to work in politics.
As previously reported, while the government's 'Digital Britain' report was a bit non-committal on forcing internet service providers to reduce, suspend and may be even disconnect the internet access of persistent file-sharers - referring to such measures in only abstract terms, and even then as a future rather than current option - ministers are now talking about such measures as something that should be considered here and now. A change of heart that has been welcomed by many in the music business, but not internet service providers, some consumer groups and the Featured Artists Coalition.
Speaking to the US film industry in Washington yesterday, Lammy justified the UK government's sudden change of heart on this issue - and his colleagues' decision to pursue a policy he previously criticised - as proof British ministers are "not standing still" on this issue. According to Billboard, he continued: " new work against illicit P2P file-sharing, including possible suspension of internet access for persistent infringers a clear message: when it comes to piracy and infringement, 'digital is not different'".
Maintaining some of his past opinions on this matter, he stressed that governments needed support from the content industries in any moves to stop illegal file-sharing, not least in providing engaging legal alternatives for accessing content online. He told his film industry audience: "Partnership and innovation by businesses can help consumers understand the problems illegal downloads cause creators and performers, giving them the knowledge and confidence they need to act within the law. If we provide the right combination of enforcement, education and forward-looking policy we can build a culture that provides consumers with legitimate access to the content they want".
Lammy was speaking as those who oppose three-strike style measures to combat file-sharing started to comment on the government's recent change of heart on the P2P issue, ie their putting possible suspension and disconnection of internet access back on the agenda (ministers did imply such measures would be considered in early 2008, it was only towards the end of last year and around the release of 'Digital Britain' earlier this year that they seemed to have been rejected as short term options).
Presumably responding to that letter in the The Times from various content owner trade bodies supporting the new proposals, the bosses of three major ISPs plus various consumer groups wrote their own letter to the broadsheet claiming that the three-strike measures being discussed "threaten broadband consumers' rights and the development of new attractive services", while warning that efforts to combat file-sharing in this way in other countries have led to "consumer resistance".
And while cross-sector trade body UK Music and the record industry's BPI welcomed the government's rethink, not everyone in the music business is in support of measures that could lead to file-sharers having their net connections suspended or disconnected.
The Featured Artists Coalition has been against such measures ever since its formal creation earlier this year, but this time they have been joined by the British Academy Of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and the Music Producers' Guild in airing concern. In a group statement they said: "We have serious reservations about the content and scope of the proposed legislation outlined in the consultation on P2P file-sharing. Processes of monitoring, notification and sanction are not conducive to achieving a vibrant, functional, fair and competitive market for music".