OfCom's new plans for Internet piracy in the UK

[xxMATTGxx]

I'm surprised talk-talk are there, thought they were 'majorly' against it?

The draft code of practice, which Ofcom was ordered to draw up by the controversial Digital Economy Act, was immediately attacked by TalkTalk, the UK's second largest ISP.

"Ofcom's draft code of practice is a valiant attempt to implement the Digital Economy Act's proposals, but we think it has the potential to turn into a bureaucratic dog's breakfast," said a TalkTalk spokesman. "As the code stands, millions of customers would be at risk of being falsely accused of copyright infringement, being falsely put on to an 'offenders' register' and so potentially taken to court. There is little in the draft code about protecting customers from receiving misleading or bullying letters."

TalkTalk is also worried about the lack of consideration of data protection issues and there is little in the draft code about how the regulator will ensure customers can access fair and just appeals. "The draft code exempts smaller ISPs and mobile operators, which seems arbitrary and could lead to market distortion," the spokesman added. "Finally, the way Ofcom has designed the rules may kill off public Wi-Fi networks."

Consumer and citizens' rights groups, meanwhile, called for the fair treatment of customers accused of copyright infringement using filesharing networks.

"Consumers face considerable confusion while Ofcom tries to work out how to implement new laws under the Digital Economy Act," said Robert Hammond, head of post and digital communications at Consumer Focus. "The aim should be to encourage suspected copyright infringers to use legal alternatives and achieving this rests on the process of notification being seen by consumers as fair and helpful."

Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group warned that "letters being sent out could cause a lot of worry and fear". "People may feel they are under surveillance," Killock said.

"This is another extremely rushed process, forced by the Digital Economy Act's absurd timetables. There are huge unanswered questions, not least whether innocent people will have to pay to appeal," he added.

The code of practice applies to ISPs with over 400,000 customers, meaning that it will initially apply to BT, TalkTalk, Virgin Media, Sky, Orange, O2 and the Post Office, who together control 96% of the market. Ofcom, however, will review unlawful filesharing activity on a quarterly basis and can extend the code to cover smaller ISPs and the mobile phone companies if it spreads.

They are.

[Recursion]

Too big to be on a DVD tbh.

It's plain text, it wouldn't be much bigger than DVD if at all

[Oleh]

Im guessing a simple vpn would bypass the whole detection? if so when august comes its giganews for me

[GommeInc]

Hmmm, can't say it really affects me. I download musics legally and have done for a very long time. You'd think they would give this up, seeing as the government wants to make cuts and this seems like an expensive act to follow.

[Black_Apalachi]

Erm, I was worried until the bit about the three strikes thing and the list; - the first two letters will just be ignored and the chances of even getting the first one at all are very slim. So basically I'm safe because I have an ISP nobody has ever heard of? All this can possibly do is reduce the turnover of; BT, Talk Talk, Virgin Media, Sky, Orange, O2 and Post Office when everybody runs off to companies not on that list, lol.

[Oleh]

Plus the majority of people i know who download illegally (personally) are too young to be able to afford things they want e.g music (£1 a song isnt it), software (photoshop is like £400, which teenage aspiring photoshopper has that kind of money, my friend designs covers for clubs and upcoming rappers even he doesnt have enough money to get it yet.)

[brandon]

Erm, I was worried until the bit about the three strikes thing and the list; - the first two letters will just be ignored and the chances of even getting the first one at all are very slim. So basically I'm safe because I have an ISP nobody has ever heard of? All this can possibly do is reduce the turnover of; BT, Talk Talk, Virgin Media, Sky, Orange, O2 and Post Office when everybody runs off to companies not on that list, lol.

Didn't you have the same one as I had, Opal Telecom? That's Talk Talk.

[Black_Apalachi]

Didn't you have the same one as I had, Opal Telecom? That's Talk Talk.

Nope ours is Utility Warehouse. That internet speed test thing must be lying or something

[-:Undertaker:-]

I feel very strongly on the issue of democracy/civil liberties so in my reply i'll cover it in general.

Hmmm, can't say it really affects me. I download musics legally and have done for a very long time. You'd think they would give this up, seeing as the government wants to make cuts and this seems like an expensive act to follow.

Oh no certainly not, our government much prefers to target and make criminals out of taxpayers and teenagers rather than fight real crime and build more prisons. The same goes for all other areas where they'd rather cut services here rather than cut foreign aid or the direct EU payments.

The news story anyway, the only solution is to move provider if possible. I am no expert on internet or computing but the only way to beat these people is to play hide and seek - face it, as it stands you cannot vote these people out (runs up the chain of political command also) so therefore you'll just have to play hide and seek. I am sure there is a law though which prevents private companies from being able to fine you but they can take you to court - my advice would be to let them take you to court as it will loose them money which most likely leads to them not doing so in the first place. You must stand upto these people, everyone must otherwise we cease to be a democracy.

The database issue, well this is just a small part of it. Little do most people know but their civil liberties have been trampled upon over the past decade or so by the introduction of the European Arrest Warrant, ID cards, government databases and fingerprinting. If you want this to stop then theres one option; stop voting for them.

[HotelUser]

If it tops people downloading things like Windows I am for it.

Honestly Tom the only people downloading Windows are looking to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7. They should be able to do that for free anyway