I am interested in how we deal with the Internet at a political level in Europe.

Notice that I do not use the word 'regulate'. Officially, of course, we do not regulate the Internet, and there are many voices who say that we should never do so. And they may be right. However, the reality is that there are several ways that this apparently 'free' resource can be controlled by governments and other interests. The law can be applied to the Internet and to those of us who use it. The 'net is also an economic resource and as such there are many powerful interests who would like to control it.

I am  interested in how communications policy is made in the EU, and how the policy-making process  is or is not  adapting to a new media environment. I am also interested in  how the European approach contrasts with the way it has been handled elsewhere, especially in the United States.   In the course of my research, I have analysed the policy-making process in the EU legislature. My analysys l included the lobbying by business and other interests, as well as   moves by other EU institutions to address this difficult and new policy area. 

My book, The Copyright Enforcement Enigma: Internet Politics and the 'Telecoms Package'  comes out this November, published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book tells you the full story of the Telecoms Package with exclusive  information  on the Third Reading. I believe it will be the first academic account of the Package, and I've certainly not seen anything else yet which shows a depth of understanding of the events of the Package. Read the reviews for yourself!

I am currently working independently on a book on copyright enforcement policies in the Member States, which is based on  overmatter from my doctoral research. I felt that I had enough to write a second book. It is proving to be more work than I had hoped, but I do have a first draft on file.

 My PhD  research began with by investigating European policy for the Internet and online content. In very simple terms, it concerned  the content - news,  pictures, TV programmes, movies,  music - that we get over the Internet - or indeed, that we put there ourselves.  And how companies and governments are arguing over what  we are - and are not - allowed to do with it. That led me to exmaine the European Commission's Creative Content Online consultation, which  addressed the hot debate over copyright enforcement measures known as graduated response or 3-strikes - and downloading of music and film. And from there, I discovered the copyright amendments in the Telecoms Package.

The  title of  my doctoral  thesis  was 'The Political Battle for Online Content in the European Union' which analysed the travaux preparatoire of the Telecoms Package for copyright issues.  In the course of my research, I spoke to policy-makers and industry stakeholders who lobbied in Brussels.   I spoke to  interests on both sides of this highly polarised debate.  I carried out my PhD research as a self-funded student, under the auspices of the University of Westminster.

I completed an MA with distinction in 2006, also at the University of Westminster. My Masters dissertation discussed the politics of the EU Data Retention directive (2006/24/EC). I have never published this reseach (although the examiner's feedback  said it was publishable) however, I have published the abastract below.

I will be available in 2012 for new research projects and other assignments. Please get in touch with me by email or phone.

PLEASE NOTE:The information I publish on iptegrity.com is free information. I do so because I am interested in debating with others who also work in this area or have an interest in it.  This is indeed a difficult and complex area of research, and very competitive too.   I reserve the right not to publish all of the references.