Nominations-closed

2011 April 26

Judgment in the Digital Economy Act Judicial Review

2011 April 20

After only three weeks, Mr Justice Kenneth Parker has handed down his judgment in the Judicial Review of the Digital Economy Act. In summarising thousands of pages of evidence and submissions and the four-day hearing, the judge rejected nearly all of the grounds for the review, only allowing the challenge to part of the allocation of costs. The full text of the judgment can be found here and summaries of the hearings here.

What is Pirate Party politics?

2011 April 15

Election season is underway and some people are hearing about the Pirate Party for the first time. Also voters are being bombarded with leaflets and 70 page manifestos. Here is a quick round up of what we stand for- as most people don't want to wade through a whole huge document.

The Pirate Party is the first genuinely 21st century political movement. It is our aim to set digital policy right at the heart of of British politics where it belongs. Access to broadband should be a right for all, whether in rural or urban communities. We want to see an end to laws that hound individuals, we want to see a country where government is truly open and accountable, and where technology is embraced rather than feared. 

This forward-looking policy, that touches each part of our everyday lives. Concerned about cuts? We should support free software in the public sector and channel savings in to British technology and jobs. Concerned about the NHS? Then we need to stop subsidising pharmaceutical companies' profits and marketing budgets through the patent system. Concerned about crime? Then we should stop wasting money on ineffective and intrusive CCTV.

Stop Copyright Extension Now

2011 April 12

Once again a move to extend copyright is making its way through the European Parliament. The move to extend the copyright on sound recordings (and other "neighbouring rights") began in April 2009 when, under intense pressure from the music publishing lobby, the European Parliament agreed to increase the duration of this copyright from 50 years to 70 years (compromising on the Commission's and lobbyists' demand of 95 years). However, before this could be implemented, elections were called and a new Parliament was voted in, including one from the Pirate movement. Now, nearly two years later, this process has been resurrected following a change of heart within the Danish government.

This time, however, we have a chance of fighting back. A campaign to challenge this extension (or at least demand that it be debated by the new Parliament) has been started by Christian Engström from within the European Parliament. All he needs to open this issue up is 40 or more signatures from MEPs. There are currently 72 UK MEPs, so we can make a difference here.

PPUK Board and Treasurer

2011 April 11