In direct contrast to the response by TalkTalk broadband, Sky broadband has today come out in support of the Digital Economy Act which was recently pushed through parliament by the Labour Party. The company believes that while a number of “innocent” parties may become involved in various court actions, the wider picture is more positive and will reduce the impact which piracy is having upon investment in the Internet and the Internet industry.
Sky broadband is the first major broadband provider in the UK to come out in support of the Digital Economy Act and there is uncertainty regarding the opinions of other ISPs in the UK. It will be interesting to see how the split emerges in the UK ISP sector because rumours suggest that UK ISPs are very much for the act or very much against the act, with very few in the middle area.
The truth is that the Digital Economy Act on the surface seems like a long-awaited response to the problem of piracy in cyberspace, although it is the detail which is causing concern for many people. Whether the next government of the day will be able to find any middle ground and make various amendments to the act remains to be seen but controversy and confusion are certain to follow the Digital Economy Act for some time to come.