The Government is looking for a "plan B" on new rules that would require ISPs to block websites hosting illegal content.
As part of the controversial Digital Economy Act, ISPs could be required to block file-sharing websites. Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt has already asked for that part of the act - section 17 - to be reviewed by Ofcom, after concerns the plans may not be practical.
Hunt and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey seem to expect Ofcom will indeed find the site blocking plans unworkable, as they met with ISPs and copyright groups to further discuss the issue.
"It is agreed that what is needed is a plan B, or at least a plan that works alongside section 17 which would be the legal backstop," said one attendee, according to a report in the Guardian. "We want to look at how ISPs and rights holders can work together."
One concern apparently raised was who would be at risk of being sued if a site was unfairly blocked: the ISP or the rights holder who reported the infringement.
The Government will now form a working group to look into the issue, alongside Ofcom's review. The meeting also considered how best to encourage legal downloads, as well as how search engines - notably attendee Google - could prioritise legal content over pirated material in its results.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/365542/gove ... iracy-laws'We're gonna need a bigger failboat!'
