In a move which is being replicated by many other major players in the UK online arena, Ian Livingstone, the boss of BT broadband, has stepped into the public domain to suggest that plans to cut off customers accused of filesharing should be replaced by on the spot fines. He believes this would give customers the chance to appeal against filesharing and copyright infringement allegations in the courts while at the same time creating a significant income stream which could be used to compensate those companies and those people affected.
While there is no doubt that instances of illegal file sharing and copyright infringements have increased dramatically since the online arena became part of everyday life, there is growing concern that we could see a reduction in online activity and online services throughout the UK. Many Internet cafes and other such services are concerned that customers using their premises and their Internet connections for illegal activity could leave them open to significant fines and potential financial ruin.
While Ian Livingstone is in many ways on his own at the moment with regards to his views about on the spot penalties, it is known that many in the industry feel the same way. We are likely to see a concerted effort by UK Internet service providers to fight the Digital Economy Bill in the days and weeks ahead.