Is limiting internet access really the best way to deal with piracy?
On Wednesday, Lord Mandelson the government Business Secretary said the U.K. will cut Internet access of repeat offenders as ‘last resort’ – a move that broadly speaking has been well received by artists, labels and industry organisations. There are a few dissenters, most notably telecoms companies and ISPs who are concerned about bearing the extra costs of monitoring and enforcement. But is the basic principle sound? There can be no doubt that something needs to be done – Future of the Left guitarist Andy Falkous’ now famous MySpace rant, turned into a Guardian full page advert by UK Music to highlight the issues of piracy from the point of view of struggling acts makes a very simple point – reiterated in a recent interview “I’m sure that Metallica don’t need the money, unless you’re talking of a fourth holiday home or whatever, but it doesn’t really change the moral issue. Theft is still theft”. UK Music CEO Feargal Sharkey added at the Labour Party conference that artists are having
