BPI Using Newzbin2 Ruling To Seek Much Broader Censorship Of Sites It Doesn't Like In The UK
from the did-anyone-not-see-that-coming? dept
md1500 points us to news that will surprise absolutely no one. Apparently BPI (the UK version of the RIAA) is using the Newzbin2 ruling to seek broad censorship over a variety of websites it doesn't like:The first likely step, which could be just days away, will be to ask ISPs to block some of the biggest illegal websites. It is not known yet which sites – and, therefore, which ISPs will be targeted. If ISPs do not block these sites voluntarily, the BPI will ratchet up the pressure and will seek court orders – citing 97A and the MPA case – requiring them to do so.And this is what censorship begets: more censorship. It's especially troubling when it comes from the entertainment industry -- an industry who has a history of declaring all sorts of useful tools and services -- the player piano, the radio, cable tv, the photocopier, the vcr, the dvr, the mp3 player, online video, etc. -- as infringing, because of their own unwillingness to adapt.
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Filed Under: blocking, censorship, isps, uk
Companies: bpi, bt, newzbin
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Also, this comes the same day the UK government announced that the existing website-blocking stuff is "unlikely to be effective because of the slow speed that would be expected from a full court process" and suggesting work on faster and cheaper methods (avoiding courts all-together) including blocking payments and advertising to sites, reducing their visibility on search engines, and seizing domain names.
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What reason could they possibly have to use these powers ro censor legal sites that interfere with their business model, image and/or agenda?
And if these laws should legislatively drift to cover libel, defamation and other things the government or major corporations deem to be untrue or a threat to national security, why I am sure that will also be handled in a fair and open manner.
So, there is nothing to fear.
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Universal is behind it
What the incredible irony here is, the UK government is supposed to stop blocking websites that fileshare.
So the effect that I see is the UK really needs to put everyone, legislators, judges, and executors of the law, on the same page. Right now, it's a clusterbomb of different patches just to try to censor. The better ideas aren't being shared in order to understand the UK government. The problem seems to be that the government listens to only one side of the debate and ignores any and all other sides. Period.
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fought and died for a free country
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Also, the then-head of the MPAA had a lunch with one Lord Mandelson, the most corrupt politician this side of Hamid Karzai, and that prompted a sudden u-turn from Darth Mandelson.
So, yes, the MPAA is the correct org to lay this down on.
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A billion? Really?
Wow, if one-sixth of the entire human population is breaking the law, then that ought to be a clue to any sane person that something is seriously wrong with the law.
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:)
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How the courts continue to side with old media is beyond me.
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Pirates: Step outside analogue boy!
LoL
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The other side of: computers DO change everything.
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...yo?
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