Posted: 18th Mar, 2010 By: MarkJ

The
Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) has today urged government MPs not to delay the controversial Digital Economy Bill (DEB), despite widespread opposition. Concern over the bill mounted after it rushed through proposals aimed at forcing UK broadband ISPs to block copyright infringing websites and disconnect "
suspected" illegal ISP file sharers.
John Lovelock, Chief Executive of FAST, said:
"The software industry and other copyright holders in the wider creative industry welcome the attention that is being focused on copyright issues in this digital age. We urge clear action against copyright infringers using the Bill’s provisions after Royal Assent.
Delaying the legislation unnecessarily in the Commons will not help. The Bill has had scrutiny in the Lords to excess. FAST has lobbied for intellectual property legislation since its inception in 1984.
Whilst campaigners have rightly pointed out that we shouldn’t allow politicians the power to meddle unrestrained with our copyright regime, let us be clear, there are checks and balances in place being eminently sensible given the rapid pace in digital technology and the difficulties in protecting intellectual property."
Many would probably disagree that the bill has had "
scrutiny in the Lords to excess," especially after the significant website-blocking Amendment 120A surfaced and gained approval within the space of around two weeks.
Few would disagree that copyright infringement does need to be tackled but, as it stands today, there are more than a few problems with DEB. Not least over the lack of detail in how those "
checks and balances" or the appeal process itself will work.