Latest on Digital Economy Bill

The House of Lords is considering the latest draft of the Digital Economy Bill.

Full text of the bill here: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2009-10/digitaleconomy/documents.html

The bill is running out of time – but all parties are supportive of the bill and therefore there appears to be a quite high level of support for something to go through.

Even public libraries or university campuses would have to adhere to the Bill, causing problems for anyone attempting to access free WiFi for study purposes. According to Lord Young, a minister at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) exempting libraries “would send entirely the wrong signal and could lead to ‘fake’ organisations being set up, claiming an exemption and become a hub for copyright infringement.”

For more information on the Bill please email SCL Advocacy Manager Elizabeth.Elford@bl.uk