Brussels, 30/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 July, six of the main internet providers in the United Kingdom, as well as the British music and film industry announced that they intended to fight against free “peer-to-peer” downloading. Virgin, BT, Tiscali, BskB, Carphone Warehouse, Orange and Virgin Media have effectively joined forces with the British Photographic Industry (BPI) and the Music Publishers Association (MPA) to warn internet users who illegally download that their activities are being identified and monitored. At the same time they are calling on their customers to go to other sites to legally obtain documentation. Access providers are also elaborated a code of conduct to manage repeat offenders. The key to this initiative is the imposition of a limit on broad band use as a possible sanction and the development of a legal mechanism for data sharing. The British government supports the industry leaders' initiative and welcomed this “significant agreement” and immediatley launched a public consultation to make the code legally binding. In a press release, the department of industry indicated that this would, “provide hope for a sustainable future for music and our other creative industries while assuring consumers that they will continue to fully benefit from what new technology can offer. The minister emphasised that the British regulator Ofcom will be in charge of monitoring respect of the code and ensuring that it is fair and balanced. 6.5 million Britons have illegally downloaded music or films over the past year, a practice that could cost the music industry £1bn over the next five years.
The United Kingdom is therefore following France's approach towards a measured response in tackling illegal downloading and protecting the rights of the music and creative industries. In the presentation of its priorities on audiovisual affairs at the European Parliament at the beginning of July, the French presidency announced, through the voice of Christine Albanel, that the fight against piracy and the protection of copyright and associated rights would particularly be taken into account. Ms Albanel stressed that, “we would like to have an exchange of views on this issue”. (I.L. /transl. rh)