The biggest names in the music industry on Monday expressed support to peer-to-peer file-sharing website users as they slammed plans by record companies to permanently cut the Internet connection of people who are found “guilty” of illegally downloading music files.
Britain’s music legends like Sirs Elton John and Paul McCartney openly expressed opposition over the plan of the UK government to permanently disconnect users who were found violating the proposed “three strike policy”.
The two music icons, along with other artists, said that the plan was “extraordinarily negative” and backward. They also said that it is illogical and expensive.
It will be recalled that the record labels and movie producers have been pushing for the implementation of the “three-strike policy” to the extent that the Internet Service Providers (ISP) were caught in the middle.
Several concerned groups tagged the music industry for allegedly “forcing” the ISPs to implement the order, however, talks have been stalled as more and more groups expressed disagreement over the issue.
Meanwhile, Australian film producers filed charges against iiNet in an alleged move to force ISPs to stop illegal downloads of movie files in their networks. Users groups said that the “scare” case was a blatant abuse of the movie industry to influence courts over its decisions.
Users are now pressuring the government to step into the discussion and resolve the issue through legislations. But the government said that it will issue legislative changes in the file-sharing and copyright law depending on the outcome of the case filed against iiNet.
In a related development, the UK government has allowed Ofcom, a telcom regulator, to order ISPs to cut the connection of illegal file sharers permanently if they were found guilty of violating the three-strike policy.
The decision of the British government now sparked debates among users and other groups involved.