The Future of the Digital Economy Act

2011 March 28

This is one of a set of posts detailing the main arguments made in Court during the Judicial Review of the Digital Economy Act - R (on the application of BT and TalkTalk) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. This post covers the fourth day. A summary of day one can be found here, and day three here.

The final hearing of the Digital Economy Act Judicial Review took place this morning, with the absence of the government's lead barrister. However, the defence was continued by the barrister representing the copyright industry (both copyright owners and other parties).

The copyright industry started by affirming that copyright was a "fundamental human right" under the European Convention itself and in European Union law, and this was accepted by the Court. It was claimed that as the case concerns balancing this fundamental right with the rights of ISPs under European Law, a "wide margin of appreciation" must be given when testing proportionality. The defence therefore argued that the measures in the DEA were within that margin.

Defending the Digital Economy Act

2011 March 25

This is one of a set of posts detailing the main arguments made in Court during the Judicial Review of the Digital Economy Act - R (on the application of BT and TalkTalk) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. This post covers the third day. A summary of day one can be found here, and day four here.

This morning the judicial review of the Digital Economy Act resumed with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills defending the Digital Economy Act. Before the arguments got underway, it was agreed that the hearing would spill over to Monday, with the final matters being dealt with then.

The government's arguments included assertions that while the DEA is already in force, it does not yet have any legal effect on individuals or ISPs, and so until it does have an effect, there is little point in reviewing it. Much was made of the claim that the DEA is about protecting the "fundamental human rights" of copyright owners, how the enforcement of copyright was a "core aim" of the European Community, and how copyright itself (as it is today) is "in the public interest."

Digital Economy Act On Trial

2011 March 23

This is one of a set of posts detailing the main arguments made in Court during the Judicial Review of the Digital Economy Act - R (on the application of BT and TalkTalk) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. This post covers the first day. A summary of day three can be found here, and day four here.

Today the Digital Economy Act was put on trial. Lawyers from BT and TalkTalk (with submissions from Consumer Focus and the ORG) went to the High Court to argue that sections 3 to 18 of the Act (concerning online infringement of copyright) were illegal and should be struck out. Present to defend the Act were a legal team from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, and lawyers representing certain parts of the copyright industry (including PACT and the BPI).

Bradley Manning : 300 Days

2011 March 22

Results of voting on constitutional amendments

2011 March 13

Two weeks ago saw not only our first conference, but also the opening of voting on 36 questions to make 69 amendments to our constitution. Voting closed yesterday and the results are now available.

All amendments were passed and the Board would like to thank all members who participated in this process by commenting and/or voting on amendments.

The Board have already highlited several amendments which still need work, but hopefully the volume of changes will never be quite so large as this time around.

Pirate Crew

2011 March 04

Everyone wants more CCTV, apparently

2011 March 03

On Tuesday 1st March, the Second Reading of the Protection of Freedoms Bill was debated in the House of Commons. As you may be aware, the Protection of Freedoms Bill introduces the requirement for a Code of Practice for CCTV installations, something that the Pirate Party has been demanding for some time.  Several MPs expressed the opinion that there was nothing wrong with CCTV, and far from demanding regulation, constituents were demanding more of it.

IP Review - Final Call for Evidence

2011 March 01

The UK IPO is currently running an Independent Review of IP and Growth. As part of this, they are calling for evidence from interested parties or individuals, asking "what, if anything, should we do to change the UK's IP system in the interests of promoting more rapid innovation and economic growth?"

I am hoping to submit a response for this on behalf of the Party. For this I need your help