Report from the ISP Future Content  Models and Enforcment Strategies Summit 2008, Kensington, London

The Motion Picture Association (MPA)  - the  Hollywood trade association -  has weighed into the debate around an Internet levy to pay for publicly-funded entertainment with a clear 'no'. Speaking at the  ISP Future Content  Models and Enforcement Strategies Summit 2008, Ted Shapiro, MPA  legal counsel, warned against "turning the Internet into one big compulsory licence".  Expanding on what he meant, he said "you pay your ISP a few Euros per month and we all get a cheque. 

The possibility of a levy on the Internet is being quietly floated by a number of people as an option to deal with file-sharing, and to generate money for content production. I have mostly heard it from members of the rights-holder community, such as the British music industry, and the French cultural lobby. The people more likely to oppose it, are the ISPs themselves - and that could make for an interesting partnership option for the MPA. 

Telecoms Package passed by "confused" MEPs  

The two European Parliament  committees voting on the crucial copyright amendments have both approved them. The vote was last night (7th July 2008).  This means that the Parliament has voted for a the legal framework to restrict access to the Internet, and to underpin riposte graduee  measures similar to the ones being implemented in France. With  809 amendments, and the copyright matters inserted with subtle phrases peppered throughout the text, it was difficult for anyone to understand what they were actually voting on.  Reports from Strasbourg say that MEPs were confused and right up to the last minute, did not know what they were voting for. 

 The committee vote is the first of a two-stage voting process in the European Parliament. The second stage is the plenary vote, however, the plenary   usually follows the committee vote.

The only way things can change now, is if MEPs take action to do something for the plenary session. This is scheduled for 2nd September, but reports from last night suggest that there are requests for the plenary vote to be re-sheduled to give more time. Certainly, the French Presidency's stated desire to get the Telecoms Package approved in council by November is much too fast.

This legislation is complicated, it has serious democratic implications, and it needs time for proper debate and public consultation.

I have written a briefing paper on the Telecoms package. 

Called The Telecoms Package and the copyright amendments: a European legal framework to stop downloading, and monitor the Internet", the paper argues that it is essential to protect the "mere conduit" status of the ISPs in order to protect the rights and freedoms of the individual. You can read it here.  You are free to use it or quote from it, provided you attribute it  to the author.