Comments on: BPI letter to Ben Bradshaw on 16th June 2009

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:49:43 +0000

From the looks of it, the ip provisions were written by the BPI/IFPI etc and other MAFIAA organisations. I for one have had enough of big business dictating policy and laws in this country. If the political class can’t or wont act for the benefit of the people for whom they serve, instead of some oligarchic cartel, then I foresee an exchange of power in britain’s future. At least an athenian real democracy would be run by and for the people, not the vested interests of the few.

By: RobT

RobT — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:12:53 +0000

I can see books going the way of music soon. I’ve just tried searching for a couple of ebooks via Waterstones and Amazon. The choice is not only limited but often specific to the type of book reader one has. Ridiculous!

Oh well, off to the torrent sites…

By: Shaun Hollingworth

Shaun Hollingworth — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:15:54 +0000

All this seems to highlight to me, the complete lack of common sense currently prevalent in the “New Labour” party.

Like it or not these measures ARE going to be unpopular with the public and to try to introduce them a few months before a General Election is the height of stupidity. Especially when they are being railroaded by someone NOT EVEN ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

That being the case do NL really expect us to elect them ?

Perhaps they’ve made such a mess of the country they DON’T even WANT to be elected.

It seems that NL are bent on introducing more and more NASTY AND repressive legislation, looking for more and more things to prohibit and criminalise. Now piracy is already illegal, the companies have the legal means at their disposal to deal with it, and they should use the proper CURRENT channels to pursue it. Perhaps they should negotiate with ISPs for access to offical subscription based musc sites as an add on to user’s subscriptions.

When the music companies introduce AFFORDABLE alternatives such as access to their back catalogue at a reasonable flat rate, THEN the government should consider more draconian measures against those who still insist on illicit activity.

I voted NL back in 1997 and actually celebrated their victory. I regret that decision. The tories under Mr. Major were like pussycats compared with this nasty lot.

By: Xanthe

Xanthe — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:41:17 +0000

Glad to hear you’re on to this. The big entertainment companies privately admit that the current economic model is unsustainable, they know they can’t turn back the tide. In the meantime, they’d quite like to sue a few spotty teenagers and their parents for totally disproportionate sums of money – in some countries fines and legal settlements are now a major source of income.
This whole system needs a radical overhaul to make a sustainable business model that is both fairer to all and conducive to a thriving cultural life in Britain and beyond. Mandy’s bill is not the answer.

By: Mo

Mo — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:20:59 +0000

“As well as the success of our artists, record companies are adapting to the digital world with a pace and dynamism unmatched elsewhere in the creative industries”

He actually believes this, doesn’t he?

By: Adrian

Adrian — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:03:09 +0000

Well at least Mr Bradshaw took up the kind offer from Mr Taylor. I notice that Peter Mandelson is intending to scrap the royalty fee exemption for charities & community organisations. Nice work Tom, keep prodding, it would be interesting to see how much of an input the industry has into DB. The pace of change in internet technologies would probably render ineffective most sanctions that could be applied as a result of the DB programme (in terms of monitoring data streams, etc). Potentially alienating such a large section of the electorate so soon to an election does not seem to be a great strategic plan either!