ISPs win Digital Economy Act review

Internet service provider’s BT and TalkTalk have this afternoon been told by the High Court that they have won the right to a full and official judicial review of the controversial Digital Economy Act.

The pair vowed in July to challenge the legislation, which requires that those found guilty of repeated file sharing have their internet connections severed by ISPs. It also requires ISP to block off websites deemed to be hosting illegal or copyrighted material.

It’s unclear exactly which aspects of the DEA are to be reviewed, though the process is sure to hold up the expected April arrival of DEA policies – though it’s unlikely to affect the implementation of the new PEGI games age rating system in April.

The Digital Economy Bill was passed in April just a month before the UK general election. Critics at the time said the bill had not been properly debated as the then Labour government looked to tie up loose ends ahead of a probably election defeat.

At the time Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg vowed to repeal the DEB should his party get into Westminster.