ISPA notes the joint statement by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announcing changes to the P2P filesharing consultation.
ISPA is concerned that amendments have been proposed without consultation with the Internet Industry and that the decision was made to publish changes to the consultation before stakeholders had been given the opportunity to respond. ISPA intends to raise these concerns with the Government and is currently considering the appropriate action.
ISPA is disappointed by the proposal to force ISPs to suspend users’ accounts. ISPs and consumer groups consider disconnection of users to be a disproportionate response, a view that was recently supported by the European Parliament.
ISPA would be concerned if, as is proposed, the Secretary of State were given the power to determine when a system that included imposing technical sanctions on users should be introduced. This would politicise the process and would be a negative step.
ISPA is also concerned that the proposed changes to the original consultation include setting out how costs will be split in the legislation. It is not clear how this will be determined and ISPA would urge consultation with industry on this at the earliest opportunity.
ISPA Secretary General Nicholas Lansman said "ISPA is committed to working with members, rights holders and Government to reduce unlawful filesharing over P2P networks and will be responding formally to this consultation. ISPA is disappointed that the Government has chosen to take action to amend an open consultation before most stakeholders have had an opportunity to comment on the original proposals."
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Notes to the editor:
The Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA) was established in 1995 as a trade association to represent providers of Internet services in the UK. ISPA promotes competition, self-regulation and the development of the Internet industry. For a list of members or other information about ISPA, please consult the website: www.ispa.org.uk
The views expressed in this release are those of the Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA) and do not necessarily reflect the corporate policies of the individual companies that are members of the Association or other organisations that may be mentioned in the release. For further editorial information please contact the ISPA Press Office (020 7340 8741).