An story on BoingBoing cites a British Labour Government source that such a move may be underway.
The article, noticed by GPer DarkSaber, reports that changes could be introduced to the Digital Economy Bill, which would enable the Secretary of State to introduce legislation without debate in order to amend the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and to introduce a Pirate-Finder General.
Current Secretary of State Peter Mandelson's is behind the proposal, which would feature the following measures:
1. The Secretary of State would get the power to create new remedies for online infringements.
2. The Secretary of State would get the power to create procedures to "confer rights" for the purposes of protecting rightsholders from online infringement.
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."
The Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) was equally alarmed at the news and has introduced a form of action that urges UK citizens to call their MP.
The EFF labels the ability to to introduce legislation without debate “dangerous,” adding “This bill would grant the Secretary of State sweeping powers to mess with the very fundamentals of the UK copyright system law, ignoring the voices of UK citizens to meet the needs of one set of interest holders.”
The EFF further notes that Mandelson may also target “Cyberlocker” services like Amazon’s S3, Dropbox and YouSendIt, which allow users to swap and share large files.
Comments
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
So what is this article about? I read it, but I didn't understand it. Can someone explain to me simply what this article means, please......
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
I believe what is going on is basically, there is the possibility of a political official who can, essentially, pass what they want without debate (think of it as absolute power?), and will hunt down people who pirate, most likely, I would assume, through some kind of anti-pirate cyber effort.
This very well may, however, turn into what is basically like the Salem witch trials; a lot of people are going to get burned, and most of them will probably be innocent, or small-time offenders. While those that they really got to look for will find ways around everything they do. Well, that's how I see it.
The problem is that you are giving someone way too much, and possibly unchecked, power.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Ok thanks. I am agreeing w/you on how you explained it to me. I understand more now on this topic. It is full of political crap, so I'm not a fan of politics. But thank you.
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
You do realise this site is GamePOLITICS, right?
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Did anyone else read that as "Is Britain Readying A Ninja?"
However, if they had a Ninja, they wouldn't use the word "hunter" as that implies possibility of failure.
"That's not ironic. That's justice."
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
In a nearly empty pent house soon out of cash, Mandelson schemes a chilling scheme the touch of fear mongering and scape goating passed on to from imbecile to politician to moral mind raper, and their lie is his week worn thousand dollar gray suit the apparent pirates slayer to be Pete Mandelson .
In the dread of the night a killing sight suit of the gray and the devil was paid as the man beats down a chilling sound shoot im in da head another pirate dead, I'm a pirate slayer a political player with a nasty habit ...snorting brides!!......er... killing pirates..ya thats right..... pirates... *shifty look*
Kill the pirates kill the pirates, even if it's granny maw or a kid with no job kill them dead, another pirates head, as the axe calls out an information black out be quite and don't think, you must stay weak.
I'm a pirate slayer a political player with a nasty habit of double talking, laws don't effect me they just effect the weak. Kill the pirates kill the pirates, all those TV recording slobs and MP3 playing fools bring them all down the axe calls out.
I'm a pirate slayer a political player with a nasty habit of ...snorting brides!!......er... killing pirates..ya thats right..... pirates... *shifty look*'
Ban all data and media, loack it all down, and only allow 5 or 8 publishers of the world to sell legal goods and services thats what I am all about wheres my cut screw the people damnit wheres my money I have a life style of the rish and famous to uphold!! Thats my job by the way...being famous you know .....
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yes I know it falls about around line 4 or 5 but thats all I got....
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippysmlee.wordpress.com/
I have a dream, break the chains of copy right oppression! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/what-is-cigital-disobedience/
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
the pressing issue is will the pirate hunter use a custom pc made up to look like a corsair or ironside?
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
The problem with this in the UK is much the same as the problem with Atkinson and the R18 rating in Australia, most people are too tech-ignorant to give a damn, or see it as a problem.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Mandelson is a disgrace to UK politics, and that's saying something. The man needs to get gone and have the good grace to remain gone once he's kicked out. This time.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Mandelson is unelected, the public didn't want him (he was not elected in any way). He has added to this bill and made sure that it can't be debated, at every step of this bill Mandelson has intervened and added to it un-democratically.
And the tough measures only came about after he was wined and dined by David Geffen, co-founder of Dreamworks. America should take note because it is clear that the media organisations are using this as a test case to try to push through similar proposals in the US.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
So Mandelson put all the tougher law proposals in the bill even though they were not recommended, and now he's going to make sure that no one can debate it or alter it? Corruption at its finest.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Especially in view of reports about how cosy he's been getting with media companies lately.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Dude, I would totally play a game where you hunt pirates!
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
EVE awaits you then ;p
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Yeah, but, EVE sucks. I think he wants a game that doesn't suck, that involves pirate hunting.
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He was dead when I got here.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
You can hunt pirates in Sid Meiers Pirates!
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Considering they roll over and take it like good citzens, then complain about it, I'd say yes.
And befor you start in, in the US we whine all the time :P
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
I have a dream, break the chains of copy right oppression! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/what-is-cigital-disobedience/