Lib Dems propose stricter piracy measures

The Liberal Democrats have proposed an amendment to the Digital Economy Bill that will grant government the power to block websites that offer users the chance to illegally download copyrighted material.

More specifically, the party wants to grant the High Court the power to grant an injunction against a service provider, requiring it to prevent access to online locations specified in the order of the Court”.

This would be done when a substantial proportion of the content accessible at or via each specified online location infringes copyright”.

The Government first expressed its intention to launch a file-sharing offensive last October when Labour’s Peter Madelson stated his admiration for France’s three-strikes policy.

Plans to cut off the ‘net connections of repeat file-sharers were later laid bare in the Digital Economy Bill, though No.10 has since cooled suggestions that it will be wantonly wielding the ban hammer.