Leaked UK plans allow new copyright laws without debate by parliament.

[+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹]

A source close to the British Labour Government has just given me reliable information about the most radical copyright proposal I've ever seen.

Secretary of State Peter Mandelson is planning to introduce changes to the Digital Economy Bill now under debate in Parliament. These changes will give the Secretary of State (Mandelson -- or his successor in the next government) the power to make "secondary legislation" (legislation that is passed without debate) to amend the provisions of Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988).

What that means is that an unelected official would have the power to do anything without Parliamentary oversight or debate, provided it was done in the name of protecting copyright. Mandelson elaborates on this, giving three reasons for his proposal:

1. The Secretary of State would get the power to create new remedies for online infringements (for example, he could create jail terms for file-sharing, or create a "three-strikes" plan that costs entire families their internet access if any member stands accused of infringement)

2. The Secretary of State would get the power to create procedures to "confer rights" for the purposes of protecting rightsholders from online infringement. (for example, record labels and movie studios can be given investigative and enforcement powers that allow them to compel ISPs, libraries, companies and schools to turn over personal information about Internet users, and to order those companies to disconnect users, remove websites, block URLs, etc)

3. The Secretary of State would get the power to "impose such duties, powers or functions on any person as may be specified in connection with facilitating online infringement" (for example, ISPs could be forced to spy on their users, or to have copyright lawyers examine every piece of user-generated content before it goes live; also, copyright "militias" can be formed with the power to police copyright on the web)

Mandelson is also gunning for sites like YouSendIt and other services that allow you to easily transfer large files back and forth privately (I use YouSendIt to send podcasts back and forth to my sound-editor during production). Like Viacom, he's hoping to force them to turn off any feature that allows users to keep their uploads private, since privacy flags can be used to keep infringing files out of sight of copyright enforcers.

This is as bad as I've ever seen, folks. It's a declaration of war by the entertainment industry and their captured regulators against the principles of free speech, privacy, freedom of assembly, the presumption of innocence, and competition.

This proposal creates the office of Pirate-Finder General, with unlimited power to appoint militias who are above the law, who can pry into every corner of your life, who can disconnect you from your family, job, education and government, who can fine you or put you in jail.

More to follow, I'm sure, once Open Rights Group and other activist organizations get working on this. In the meantime, tell every Briton you know. If we can't stop this, it's beginning of the end for the net in Britain.

Source

All I can say is this: What the ****?!?!

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

Oh. My. God. Parliament seriously can't be ready to entertain this? Mandelson needs to go, he's developing a serious god complex.

I've been inclined for a long time to think that he's getting kickbacks from the entertainment industry, and as far as I'm concerned, this seals the deal. Thankfully however, it won't go through since Labour really need the people on their side this close to an election... Not that its going to save them.

[FloatingFatMan]

Fortunately, Mandelson will be gone in a few more months, so I'm not worried about this. They have no chance of getting it through, and as it wasn't a bill listed in the Queen's speech, they can't present it in this parliament's session.

[zeroday]

What is this with this Government and their sudden desperation to stop piracy in it's tracks? I think it's time parties made their funding sources public because I have a feeling a great deal of money was involved.

[O.G]

What is this with this Government and their sudden desperation to stop piracy in it's tracks? I think it's time parties made their funding sources public because I have a feeling a great deal of money was involved.

It's not about piracy, it's about censorship and overall control of the internet (and the information on it). Piracy is simply the scapegoat. The new bout of copyright legislation would make it an offense to reproduce any work, in whole or part, without permission. In other words, no more fair use. Quoting any source would constitute copyright infringement. Just one example of many. The EU has already ruled that copyright can be infringed in as few as 11 words.

Edited November 19, 2009 by O.G

[DrCheese]

Peter Mandelson is planning to introduce changes to the Digital Economy Bill now under debate in Parliament.

I can't stand this guy, he's not even a sitting MP, has been fired twice before and yet is somehow the most powerful man in the country. Whist Brown sits on his backside commenting about the latest xfactor results, This guy is continuing to erode civil liberties without any checks.

[Intersect]

well now that the troff feeding pigs in parliment have been caught out with their "expences" things like this were bound to happen.

[Inklin]

How non democratic, This cannot possibly go through. They are risking it if it does happen. not that they will win the next election anyway....

[Subject Delta]

Hmm, maybe the recording industry would have a bit more spare money if they didn't constantly line government minister's pockets with bribes.

[Growled Member]

If they don't succeed this time they will wait a bit and then sneak it in some other way. Censorship is coming because the RIAA and the MPAA want it.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

If they don't succeed this time they will wait a bit and then sneak it in some other way. Censorship is coming because the RIAA and the MPAA want it.

They have no influence in the UK. Over here its the BPI for music, and I don't know who (if there is one) the MPAA equivalent is.

[Azusa]

Fortunately, Mandelson will be gone in a few more months, so I'm not worried about this. They have no chance of getting it through, and as it wasn't a bill listed in the Queen's speech, they can't present it in this parliament's session.

He'll find some way of coming back.

[FloatingFatMan]

He'll find some way of coming back.

Not very likely with Labour out on their ear. ;)

[Roadrunna]

He'll find some way of coming back.

Too right, he's like a boogeyman in a series of bad low budget horror films - you know, the ones which you think no one ever liked but somehow always continue to get funding for the next instalment. He gets destroyed at the end of every movie but oozes and slimes his way back for the next part.

[Pablo2008jedi]

Time for a new government, even though I don't vote labour, I vote for a minority, I'll be voting for their major rival next year...

[Subject Delta]

If they don't succeed this time they will wait a bit and then sneak it in some other way. Censorship is coming because the RIAA and the MPAA want it.

The RIAA and the MPAA have no authority over here (officially at least, but everyone knows that our government never stands up to the US on anything) sadly, the BPI seem to have just as much government influence as the RIAA in the US

[leesmithg]

Oh. My. God. Parliament seriously can't be ready to entertain this? Mandelson needs to go, he's developing a serious god complex.

I've been inclined for a long time to think that he's getting kickbacks from the entertainment industry, and as far as I'm concerned, this seals the deal. Thankfully however, it won't go through since Labour really need the people on their side this close to an election... Not that its going to save them.

Well you people get what you deserve.

You vote Labour because their leader has dash and charisma, I thought he was a plank of wood

like his un-elected successor.

You should vote on the manifestos scripted during a campaign.

Then Labour had a load of manifestos they didn't give you lucky electorates, like a vote on joining the EU.

Their is an endless list of their smoke and mirror tactics, investigate yourself, you will see the light.

I think all the parties are bad, so come the next election the moron conservative that is in charge where I live

won't get my vote, I will vote for an independent.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

Well you people get what you deserve.

You vote Labour because their leader has dash and charisma, I thought he was a plank of wood

like his un-elected successor.

You should vote on the manifestos scripted during a campaign.

Then Labour had a load of manifestos they didn't give you lucky electorates, like a vote on joining the EU.

Their is an endless list of their smoke and mirror tactics, investigate yourself, you will see the light.

I think all the parties are bad, so come the next election the moron conservative that is in charge where I live

won't get my vote, I will vote for an independent.

Erm... For your information I've never voted labour, and I never will. So you can stick your snotty attitude because this mess wasn't my fault :)

[+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹]

Not very likely with Labour out on their ear. ;)

Darth Mandelson has said he'd work for the Tories if they were elected.

like his un-elected successor.

Brown was elected. He's the Member of Parliament for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath. And then he was elected by the Labour Party to be the Prime Minister.

We don't vote for PMs, we vote for MPs.

[leesmithg]

Erm... For your information I've never voted labour, and I never will. So you can stick your snotty attitude because this mess wasn't my fault :)

It was a general statement to those that did vote Labour.

This mess is the fault of everyone in Britain that is off voting age, 1) because in 2005 they never voted these mornons out and 2) people

take up the rear and say nothing.

[FloatingFatMan]

It was a general statement to those that did vote Labour.

This mess is the fault of everyone in Britain that is off voting age, 1) because in 2005 they never voted these mornons out and 2) people

take up the rear and say nothing.

No it isn't. *I* voted Tory, so don't go laying any blame for Labour winning on my doorstep, thanks. It's the fault of the people who voted Labour, and the people who didn't vote. I did all I legally could to get them out of office, thanks.

[Roadrunna]

Tony Blair sounded good on paper but when I saw how he was on TV , I just felt I did not trust him - by golly were my instincts right on the ball! So 1997 was the first time I did not vote Labour and given how their government have behaved over the last decade or so, I will never vote for them again. The bloody Tories were bad but still better than this lot!

Remember the advertising campaign the Tories ran prior to the 1997 election - 'Better the devil you know' and a picture of Tony Blair with the demon eyes.

[Shibby]

Darth Mandelson has said he'd work for the Tories if they were elected.

Brown was elected. He's the Member of Parliament for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath. And then he was elected by the Labour Party to be the Prime Minister.

We don't vote for PMs, we vote for MPs.

Yes but then most people base their vote on the party leadership.......

[FloatingFatMan]

Anyone with a long enough memory will be able to tell you that every single time Labour get in to power, they flush English down the crapper and it usually takes the Tories at least 5 years to get us out of it again...

Yes but then most people base their vote on the party leadership.......

True, but they need to be reminded that we do not, and never have, voted for the PM. We vote for our local MP's, and if enough of them get in, the party they represent becomes the leading party and they choose who they want in the top spot.

So elected or no, Brown IS the legal PM.

[+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹]

Yes but then most people base their vote on the party leadership.......

Well most people are wrong...