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Creative Content UK is a new Government-backed initiative partnered on a voluntary basis by leading creative industries and heavyweight internet service providers (ISPs) including BT, Sky Broadband, TalkTalk and Virgin Media.
The initiative has two strands, firstly aiming from Spring 2015 to promote the value of copyright in entertainment content and the importance of using legal download sources. Secondly, ISPs and content creators will jointly fund a procedure for notification to internet users whose IP address is believed to have been used for illegal downloads.
The details of the programme are yet to be announced, as are provisional target dates for making a start with the proposals for the second element to the scheme. Nevertheless, the announcement is welcome and signifies some prospect of action being taken after the extremely slow progress in implementing anti-piracy provisions provided for in the Digital Economy Act 2010 (2010 Act).
The 2010 Act had sought to impose a mandatory arrangement requiring ISPs and copyright content creators to liaise with each other to tackle online piracy. It also provided for sanctions against repeated offenders - a key weapon which is naturally expected to be missing from the new voluntary initiative.
Whether the voluntary process is an alternative to the provisions of the 2010 Act, or a temporary step for progress pending their implementation, remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, what is clear is that more efforts are being made to promote action on the part of all those involved in making online pirated content available generally.
For example, last month the Government's IP adviser, Mike Weatherley MP, produced a report concerning the role of search engine providers in this field. Amongst other things, he recommended Google takes the lead in reducing prominence given to illegal websites in search results, autocomplete search fields and to try and restrict the flow of advertising funds to such sites.
Taylors' Intellectual Property team, led by Tony Catterall, is recognised nationally and internationally for its expertise and experience in protecting and enforcing the rights of designers, particularly in the textiles, fashion and home furnishings sectors. It has won many notable and key cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court against major corporates. Taylors is the only North West-based firm to have been appointed as a Legal Affiliate to the national organisation, Anti-Copying in Design (ACID).
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Tony Catterall, Head of our Intellectual Property team, on 0844 8000 263 or via email tony.catterall@taylors.co.uk.
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Creative Content UK launched to tackle online piracy