According to the Guardian and others, Ed Vaizey is still considering web blocking as a serious option to tackle copyright infringement. Richard Clayton, from our AC, met with Ofcom alongside Peter Bradwell, our copyright campaigner, to tell them that there is no evidence that it would work: and plenty that it would create collatoral damage if pursued as a widespread tactic to reduce copyright infringement.
The answer, as ever, is bringing legal services online. But the core issue is businesses finding ways to bring their products to their audiences, not repressive measures with vast and unwanted side effects.
You can do your bit by letting your MPs know that this is not acceptable.
openrightsgroup.orgSAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Mr MP,
Website blocking to combat copyright infringement is yet again being pressed forwards by big copyright lobbyists. Just like their previous suggestions, like cutting off people from the Internet, it isn't the answer.
Music and film companies can already apply to courts to block specific instances of copyright infringement. They can also take the sites to court, and frequently do. They can even take individuals to court, and do.
Web blocking sounds like a simple idea: but the reality is that copyright infringement is complicated and needs proving properly before a company is dealt with through a legal process. And what's more, such powers already exist, so we can safely assume whatever is being suggested will be easier for copyright holders and harder for innocent people to avoid harm.
And it won’t work. Website blocking can be easily circumvented by anyone remotely determined, but would be very likely to create means for competitors to harm each other and for companies to repress unwanted speech.
Please forward my concerns to the ministers responsible, Ed Vaizey and Jeremy Hunt.
