UK will not legislate on piracy
3rd February 2009
The UK's Intellectual Property minister David Lammy has said the government will not force internet service providers to pursue file sharers.
There had been mounting speculation about government legislation on the issue as the music industry steps up its fight against the pirates.
Other countries, such as France, have supported tough action on file-sharers, who the industry claims cost them dear.
But Mr Lammy said legislation would be too complex.
"We can't have a system where we're talking about arresting teenagers in their bedrooms," he told The Times newspaper.
Talk of the government forcing internet service providers to evict file-sharers from their networks grew last year as the British Phonographic Industry adopted a tougher stance. The BPI, which represents the UK music industry, favours a "three strikes" policy, where file-sharers offenders are initially sent warning letters. Persistent offenders could be thrown off the network.
According to analyst firm Forrester, a fifth of Europeans use file-sharing networks. Paid-for digital music services such as iTunes are used by just 10% and make up just 8% of overall music revenue.
Some experts predict that Lord Carter's report on the state of Digital Britain, expected at the end of the month, to make recommendations about how to crack down on file-sharers without legislation.
Full story on BBC news website