A new Digital Rights Agency may force internet service providers
to provide the names and addresses of customers to copyright owners
if they are suspected of infringement.
Among the possible acts such an agency could ask for are
requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to notify alleged
infringers and take down their access, and to collect anonymised
information on serious repeat infringers. This would be available
to rights-holders, together with personal details on receipt of a
court order.
The proposal is contained in a
discussion
document on the formation of a digital rights agency to oversee
online copyright usage published by the
UK Intellectual Property
Office last week
Launching the debate last week, communications ministers Stephen
Carter & David Lammy said the government was determined to stop
illegal peer to peer file-sharing. It preferred the industry to
come up with solutions, but it was determined to pass the required
legislation.
"If there isn't evidence of a real commitment from industry by
the time we legislate, then we will have to consider whether the
legislation should go further in what it requires, with less
opportunity to influence how this can be done in an effective,
flexible, pragmatic (and fair) way," they said.
From yesterday ISPs have had to collect data about who sends and
receives messages via the internet under the
European Data Retention Directive.
The document is a sequel to a section in the
Digital Britain interim report (Actions 11, 12 and 13) that
deals with copyright protection online. Responses to the Digital
Britain interim report will be the subject of a separate upcoming
consultation that will be guided by responses to the digital rights
agency discussion.
The closing date for comment is 30 March.