U.K. Eyes 2011 Start Date for Stricter Piracy Law

LONDON: The U.K. is proceeding with plans to block the Internet access of people who repeatedly download unauthorized content from the web, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills Peter Mandelson told attendees at a conference today, with the stricter measures expected to go into effect in 2011.

Mandelson, speaking at the C&binet creative economy conference, said that offenders would first receive a series of warning letters. If a user persists, the government could impose measures such as slowing down broadband speeds or disabling the connection all together. "It must become clear that the days of consequence-free widespread online infringement are over," Mandelson said. "Technical measures will be a last resort and I have no expectation of mass suspensions."

He continued: "It’s not lawful to thieve other people’s creative work, what we’re doing is creating new measures that will bring the law up to date, make it enforceable and clearly understood, so we can touch the first base which is to educate people. Most people don’t think it is illegal, most people think it is a victimless practice that everyone does and why shouldn’t they?"

The government’s new digital economy bill, including the strategy towards illegal file-sharers, is due to be released next month. The legislation is likely to come info effect in April 2010, according to British press reports. For one year, the effectiveness of the warning letters will be evaluated. If there hasn’t been a 70-percent reduction in illegal file sharing, then the measure to cut off pirates’ Internet connections will be introduced in the summer of 2011. "If we reach the point of suspension for an individual, they will be informed in advance, having previously received two notifications—and will have the opportunity to appeal," Mandelson added. "The British government’s view is that taking people’s work without due payment is wrong and that, as an economy based on creativity, we cannot sit back and do nothing as this happens."