--Hunt asks Ofcom to review anti-piracy measures

Internet Business News
02-02-2011
--Hunt asks Ofcom to review anti-piracy measures

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

2 February 2011 - UK culture secretary Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday asked media watchdog Ofcom to review sections of the digital economy act in a move that could further delay the implementation of measures to curb online piracy, the Financial Times reported.
Hunt said that while he did not have a problem with the concept of blocking websites that facilitate unlawful downloading of music or films, there was unclarity as to whether those provisions in the law could be applied in practice. He was, therefore, asking Ofcom to look into the issue. It should be first known whether site-blocking is possible before its introduction is considered, the culture secretary said.

The digital economy act, which was passed in the final days of the previous government, is set for a judicial review in March after a complaint by telecoms operators BT and TalkTalk, which argue that it is disproportionate and non-compliant with European commercial legislation.

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