Cost of fighting ‘piracy’ will be paid by consumers

THE COST of trying to stop copyright infringement will be passed on to broadband customers, according to Talktalk executive director of strategy and regulation Andrew Heaney.

Heaney was speaking at a Westminster Eforum in London today about his views on internet service providers (ISPs) role in suppressing copyright infringement. He said, "People always think Talktalk is pro-piracy but we don't say that and we don't refuse to send notifications letters.

"The key problem is the way the Digital Economy Act (DEA) works, it's effectively and indiscriminately dragnet."

Heaney said the move to send letters to alleged copyright infringers will "capture innocent subscribers" as it could be others who are using their WiFi. "The letters involve a number of threats and those threats are made to people who have done nothing wrong," he said.

Heaney criticised the appeals process, which will require users who are accused of infringing copyrights to pay £20.

"If someone uses my network I'm the one who gets punished. I don't think the appeals process is fair as it assumes you are guilty until proven innocent.

"No one has given any thought at all to ask to how a subscriber could prove it isn't them. Then you have to pay £20 for an appeal. It isn't fair," he said.

It will also cause churn as accused customers move to other ISPs to clear their accounts, said Heaney, and the costs will get passed through to the other customers. He asked, "Is it fair that customers have to pay to protect the copyright of private companies?

"Our view is, the DEA is unjust and we will continue to fight against it." he added.

Dominique Lazanski, head of digital policy at the Taxpayers' Alliance, agreed that costs could be passed down to the customer. She said, "We are looking to grow the economy through broadband. Costs will be passed down to the consumers through higher tariffs. What's needed [is to ask], is this a good approach and a good way to spend money?" µ