Digital Economy Bill criticised by BT big cheese
The worst thing about music piracy is the people who look at their online thievery as a political gesture... as striking a blow to an imagined man. If they just said "Everyone likes a freebie don't they?", it wouldn't be half as bad.
However, it has become something of a political hot-potato thanks to governments wading in to try and stop people robbing music. They're doing this by waving a bit of paper around with DIGITAL ECONOMY BILL IS GONNA GETCHA written on it in permanent marker.
The debate over illegal file-sharing and how to combat it has seen sensible people stood in the middle, abuse and red tape flying over their heads. They must be wishing both parties would just piss-off and die in a bus-shelter or something.
One thing that the majority agree on is that the Digital Economy Bill is a steaming dung-pile which is neither use nor ornament. The latest person to say so is the boss of British Telecom (who isn't exactly a nice guy, let's be honest).
BT chief executive, Ian Livingston, says illegal file-sharers should be fined rather than having their accounts cut off. He and other industry figures have written to the Financial Times asking for changes to the bill.
Livingston says plans to suspend internet access for file-sharers goes against natural justice and that, instead, fines or a scrap in court would be much fairer.
He said this alternative approach would "create a fund" and "you get some good, rather than getting some hurt out of people infringing copyright".
Feel free to point out BT shortcomings in the comments.
[BBC]
TOPICS: Technology
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