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Deutsch: Britische Musikindustrie ist bei der Verbindungstrennung für p2p-User...

UK Secretary of State Lord Mandelson's proposal to use technical measures to cut off connections of illegal file-sharers met different reactions within UK music industry.

A coalition including the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) and the Music Producers Guild (MPG) has recently expressed its opinion that the suspension of connections of allegedly illegal file-sharers was a "grossly disproportionate" measure. Besides the fact that the costs necessary for the implementing of technical measures to cut off online connections are much too high as compared to the supposed benefits, the members of the coalition also stated they did not want to punish their fans.

While believing that copyright is essential for the protection of songs writers and artists, the members of the coalition "have serious reservations about the content and scope of the proposed legislation outlined in the consultation on P2P file-sharing. Processes of monitoring, notification and sanction are not conducive to achieving a vibrant, functional, fair and competitive market for music."

FAC brings as argument that, as a recent research made by MusicAlly shows, the decreasing in the CD sales should not be solely blamed on illegal online filesharing and that "it is dangerous to view the downloading of music as the direct online equivalent of CD sales". The coalition believes that what the proposals lack is a differenciation between downloading and online sharing music by fans on a non-commercial basis and those who do it for financial gains or advantages. "This second group of 'commercial' P2P users and facilitators should be pursued with the full force of the law as is the case with illegal CD plants in the offline world. Ordinary music fans and consumers should not be criminalised because of the failings of a legacy sector of business to adapt sufficiently fast to new technological challenges."

FAC expressed the opinion that the music industry should adapt to the digital age and create new business models. "As creators' representatives we are willing to be partners with government in exploring and navigating the opportunities and challenges brought by digital technologies. What we will not be a party to is any system that alienates our members' existing audience and potential new audiences."

Actually, on 25 August 2009, Mandelson's Department for Business said that following the responses to the consultation on Digital Britain proposals, the introducing of the threat of disconnection from the Internet should be reconsidered. "Since the issue of the consultation some stakeholders have argued strongly that none of those technical measures (short of suspension) is powerful enough to have a significant deterrent effect on infringing behaviour," it said.

UK Music, the body representing a large part of the music industry made a statement on 16 September clarifying its position on file-sharing in which it was forced to drop any mention of cutting off Internet connections in order to ensure unity across the industry. Although FAC is not a member of UK Music, BASCA, which made common front with FAC, is.

"UK Music would like to clarify that all our members remain committed to supporting proposals that will benefit the future growth and sustainability of our commercial music industry. We believe that Government intervention is extremely welcome and that, subject to assessment, Ofcom should be granted appropriate and proportionate powers as directed by the Secretary of State. The purpose of these powers is to encourage users of unlicensed P2P networks towards existing and future digital music services," says the statement making no mention to any specific enforcement measures.

A final view of the industry will probably be submitted after the consultation process closes on 29 September.

Cracks show in music industry over P2P enforcement (16.09.2009)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/16/uk_music_statement/

UK Music statement on Government's proposed P2P file-sharing legislation (15.09.2009)
http://www.ukmusic.org/policy/163-uk-music-statement-on-governments-pr...

UK.gov revives net cut-off threat for illegal downloaders (25.08.2009)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/25/p2p_disconnection/

Don't punish our fans, say UK musicians (16.09.2009)
http://www.iptegrity.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&am...

Joint Statement on P2P Legislation (10.09.1009)
http://www.featuredartistscoalition.com/showscreen.php?site_id=161&...

Music industry ready for climbdown on internet piracy demands (16.09.2009)
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/musi...

EDRI-gram: UK: p2p three strikes clamp down despite civil liberties concerns (26.08.2009)
http://www.edri.org/edri-gram/number7.16/uk-3-strikes