BT and Talktalk get their DEA appeal knocked back

UK INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS (ISPs) British Telecom (BT) and Talktalk have failed in their appeal of the earlier rejection of their challenge to the Digital Economy Act.

The Act, which is a dreadful thing, requires amongst other onerous demands that ISPs play a large role in policing copyright theft. This is expected to see them sending letters to their subscribers about complaints that they have received from media and rightsholder companies, thereby making them the bad guys in their customers' eyes.

When they launched the appeal the firms said that they suspected that some technical aspects had been ignored in the creation of the Act, and were asking for a second go at explaining the issues to the High Court.

We have been unable to get in touch with the firms directly, but according to a report at the Guardian the two firms were knocked back yesterday when Judge Sir Richard Buxton refused their application.

This will be a considerable setback for the companies, not least of all because the cost of sending out these notification letters could be rather high, but also because the requirements of the Act are stupid, oppressive, and not completely idiot proof.

"The two companies have chosen to seek an appeal on four of the five grounds addressed in the initial High Court case," said a spokesperson from BT in May.

"Both companies continue to take the view that the regime represents a disproportionate interference with the rights of internet service providers, subscribers and internet users and with the concept of freedom of expression." µ