ISPA News 31/10/07
ISPA Supports IWF’s Drive For Internet Users To Use Reporting Tools
IWF Awareness Day backed by UK’s leading Internet trade association
A Copyright Win Win for ISPs
Not every coin has two sides
A Crowd Joins ISPA
A warm welcome to ISPA’s newest members
ISPA In The News
UK government plans file-sharing laws
Awards News
Add Value To Your Bid For Success At The ISPAs
Entrants must complete supplementary information forms
Clear your diary, The ISPAs are here
Date for the Internet event of the year announced
ISPA Supports IWF’s Drive For Internet Users To Use Reporting Tools
IWF Awareness Day backed by UK’s leading Internet trade association
ISPA supported the IWF’s first national awareness day, held on October 24th, by promoting the organisation through a banner ad on the ISPA homepage and carrying IWF Awareness Day details on all ISPA email signatures.
Research from ISPA shows that more than 1 in 8 people (13 per cent) would do nothing if they found something on the Internet that they thought was illegal and it is hoped that by increasing Internet user awareness of reporting tools such as the IWF’s ‘Hotline’ the number of people prepared to report illegal material can be increased.
The UK Internet industry has fought against illegal content on the Internet through self regulation, investing in technological advancements and educating consumers. Making the Internet safer is a joint effort between the Internet industry, the Government and its agencies, and importantly end-users.
Jessica Hendrie-Liaño, Chair of ISPA Council said, “Internet users have an important role to play and should be aware of the mechanisms available for reporting unlawful content to the appropriate authorities. The current self-regulatory approach has produced exceptional results when dealing with child abuse images in the UK and has been a model for similar approaches in other countries. ISPA members remain committed to supporting the IWF and making a meaningful contribution to their fight against illegal content within its remit”.
A Copyright Win Win for ISPs
Not every coin has two sides
Hearing Lord Triesman's somewhat confusing description of data banks being matched to music being exchanged on the net was just as puzzling for us at Playlouder MSP (arguably the UK's only specialist in this area) as it must have been for ISP observers and the more clued up members of the record companies.
With a foot in each camp we at Playlouder MSP can take a stab at how the thought might have got lodged in his head. The 'sue the fans' strategy implemented by the BPI on behalf mostly of the major record labels, which has had no discernible positive effect on the growth of digital revenues and has been a PR disaster, has run its course. In search of a target other than itself the recording industry has stepped up rhetoric about ISPs being gatekeepers to illegal music, and was hugely encouraged by recommendation 39 in the Gowers report which seemed to agree with them that ISPs could and should do more. Boosted by the Belgian SABAM/Scarlett case, in which the Audible Magic Copysense appliance was mentioned, the BPI has been busy telling anyone who will listen that there's a cheap and easy way to clear unauthorised music off the internet, and it's only self-interested footdragging by ISPs that is stopping it happen.
I'm not going to rehearse the arguments, both technical, legal, and strategic, which make any such attempt an extremely bad idea for music companies as much as for ISPs. Instead, there's a compelling case to be made that music can benefit the ISP industry even more that it currently does. There are a number of obstacles to be overcome, not least on the music industry side, but none are insurmountable. And, far from trying to achieve a 'least worst' settlement over copyrights on public networks, a bit of imagination coupled with some negotiation could see a settlement which flips the antagonistic relationship between music companies and ISPs into a model of co-operation and mutual value creation.
If this sounds like I have been drinking the 'special sauce' (this is the music industry after all), well maybe I have. But Playlouder MSP has been building the model and it seems to us to stack up. First, consumers value music, very highly. For your hardcore music fans it might surprise you to know that music makes up a £10 per month value that they perceive in their broadband service. The real nutters can be stretched up to £20 per month. Even mainstream users reckon that £5 per month is a fair price to pay for broadband music. To us this says that anyone who was sitting on the now deceased OiNK.cd (RIP - looking forward to BOiNK.cd from the Pirate Bay) and its ilk was getting too much of a bargain.
While incremental revenue opportunities here might be limited except for a few niche players, we need now to turn to what broadband music lovers say about ISPs, none of which has so far managed to tap into the emotional relationship people have with music despite chucking a bit of money at 'brand affiliation' projects. Over 60% said that music would keep them loyal, and a huge 70% said that music on a competing ISP would make them consider switching.
Those of you with active product strategy brains will already be spinning this out into the future. Today BT's Digital Vault includes 'private' music sharing (itself a bundle of copyright infringements which don't seem to have bothered their corporate lawyers too much), but how about building public sharing, community, and internet radio right into every broadband subscription? All the value of that past music experience and music preference, coupled with the digital libraries of your customers, and the infinite future opportunities around finding and sharing new music would be stuck firmly to the broadband subscription, and every outreach by a customer to their music loving friends would be an invitation to switch ISPs and join the party.
Back to reality, though. What's it going to take to stop both sides of the divide from doing all they can to destroy the value of broadband music? The answer is surprisingly simple. A licence and some money. No 'big brother' network monitoring, no DRM, no 'unplugging' customers, no compliance overhead, no invasion of privacy, and no compromise of the ISP's 'mere conduit' status. I've called this a copyright win win. I'll add another win - for the Government, which surely would prefer to see a private commercial settlement than a bundle of extra legislation that would end up not actually helping the music industry but would add an unwelcome element of risk to the next generation of 'broadband Britain.
[ The above article has been produced by Playlouder MSP and is included in this newsletter as part of the benefits they receive as sponsor of the ISPA conference. This article does not represent the views of ISPA or its members ]
A Crowd Joins ISPA
A warm welcome to ISPA’s newest members
Three new members have joined the UK’s leading Internet trade association this month showing industry peers, parliamentarians and consumers that they believe in good business practice and actively participate in self regulation.
Broadband Genie UK is an independent ISP comparison website which allows consumers to research what is on offer in the broadband market, compare up to three packages and then decide which the best package is for them. They join ISPA in the small category.
Also joining in the small category is Surrey based Fast 4 Internet. Their services include dial-up, broadband and PAYG Internet access.
Opal has become an ISPA member in the medium category. Offering a comprehensive portfolio of telecom solutions enables them to keep businesses in touch with customers, suppliers and colleagues.
For more information on the numerous benefits of ISPA membership, such as new business opportunities and exclusive discounts, please visit the membership benefits page or contact the ISPA Secretariat.
ISPA In The News
UK government plans file-sharing laws
At this month’s Virtual Worlds Forum Lord Triesman called for ISPs to take a "more activist role" in the problem of illegal file-sharing.
ISPA responded by stating that ISPs cannot be held responsible for illegal peer-to-peer traffic because it is "merely a conduit" of such material.
"ISPA does not support abuses of copyright and intellectual property theft. However, ISPs cannot monitor or record the type of information passed over their network. ISPs are no more able to inspect and filter every single packet passing across their network than the Post Office is able to open every envelope."
For further news coverage please visit the Media Coverage page of the ISPA website.