File Sharing may End Soon in UK due to the Recent Approval of Digital Economy Bill

Digital Economy Bill bill was approved by MPs in UK by a majority of 142 votes and it will become a law afterward. According to the bill, everyone will stop to share files online and internet service providers will be compelled to send letters to any of their subscribers if there is any violation of the terms and condition. Copyright holders will be able to get name and addresses of the violators through court order and take action against them. Additionally, the ISPs will be able to suspend the account.

Labour MP Kate Hoey said that the bill was passed because of a “stitch-up” between leaders of the three main parties.  Restrictions on the activities of copyright violators will not come into force for a year and there has to be clear evidence of their activities. There was another proposal that allows politicians to block pirate websites without legislation and it was replaced by an amendment that lets ministers “make provision about the granting by a court of a blocking injunction”. Google has raised its voice several times against blocking websites. They think that blocking through injunction may produce high risk because the legal content may be blocked by mistake, or  people may abuse the system.

However, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said that the bill is going to produce right balance because it will give the creative authors more protection and also provide consumers fair deal. He reiterated that unlawful file sharing is the major cause for the loss of millions of pounds for the creative industries.

“This is not a harmless or victimless activity. It deprives our musicians, writers and film makers and other artists of their livelihoods and if we don’t do something about it, it will pose a serious threat to our creative sectors and Britain’s in them.”

One of the opponent of the bill, Jim Killock of the Open Rights Group said the proposed bill is an “an attack on everyone’s right to communicate, work and gain an education”. The phone and broadband company Talk Talk said the revised bill is much better than before, but, still it contains some harsh clauses. However, UK Music chief executive Feargal Sharkey commented that “People are taking someone else’s talent, time, effort and ability and not paying for it, and doing it without their permission.”