Jul
06
- Chris Braund
- 06/Jul/2010 10:57
OfCom has outlined strict measures to deal with illegal downloaders, as the controversial Digital Economy Act begins to take effect. Under it’s draft proposal, broadband users who are caught downloading copyrighted material more than twice a year will have their names passed on to rights holders. These violators’ details will then be passed on to Britain’s seven leading ISPs (Internet service providers, e.g. BT, TalkTalk...). Copyright owners can apply for a court order to get the IP addresses to round them up.
The consequences of which for these illegal downloads could mean disconnection from the internet should Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt deem it “appropriate”. The OfCom measures come after the new Government stated that it won’t be repealing the Act, despite fierce pre-election criticism of the bill from both the conservatives and the liberal democrats. Nick Clegg (Dep. PM) himself saying that the bill “badly needed to be repealed”.