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UK Parliament passes anti-piracy law authorizing internet service suspension

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The UK Parliament on Thursday approved legislation authorizing the suspension of internet service for those who repeatedly download copyrighted material illegally. The act also received Royal Assent and is now law. The Digital Economy Bill calls on internet service providers (ISPs) to block download sites, reduce a user's broadband speeds, and ultimately shut down a user's internet access in order to prevent piracy of copyrighted materials. The bill, known as a three-strikes law, imposes stricter penalties on repeat digital offenders than had previously existed, and has received a great deal of public criticism. Certain ISPs have even threatened to not comply with the law, but MPs who support it say it is a necessary step to protect the creators of digital content. Online piracy has assumed increasing importance in the eyes of legislators across Europe, and many countries, including France, have enacted similar legislation. A recent report, however, suggests that the French anti-piracy bill may actually lead to increased piracy. The French bill was approved by the Constitutional Court in October after being given final approval by the French Parliament the previous month. Under the French law, the government could send notices to Internet service providers to terminate an individual's internet access for up to one year after a third violation of intellectual property laws for downloading or sharing movies and music.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 09, 2010 (boomark / email).