Significant Alterations Proposed in the Digital Rights Bill
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
The Digital Rights Bill and its controversial clause 17 has ruffled a few feathers in the industry, with consumer rights groups, Facebook and Google all voicing their opposition and demanding significant amendments in the bill.
The bill is already being criticised for its proposal of imposing a harsh penalty on habitual offenders in the form of disconnection. Added to this, clause 17 of the Digital Rights Bill suggests that ministers will have the right to make significant alterations in laws pertaining to control of net piracy, and they will not have to approach Parliament for the same. Staunch critics of the clause have said that the clause will have a negative impact on the growth of the broadband industry as a whole.
Besides consumer groups and internet companies, Conservative and Liberal Democrat party members have also taken the bill with a pinch of salt. All these groups are of the opinion that the bill needs to be amended immediately to make it more consumer-friendly.
It seems that the concerted efforts of these groups to oppose the bill have had the desired effect. The government is now planning to introduce some changes in the bill that will mostly pertain to offering clarifications on the scope of clause 17.
In a recent press statement, The Department for Business has, however, clearly stated that the government is not going to drop clause 17 from the bill. The same decision has been echoed by a government spokesperson.
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