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The Digital Economy Bill became law, passed in the final days of the last UK Parliament. The Bill was preceded by a White Paper, entitled ‘Digital Britain’, published by the Government in June 2009. The law covers a wide range of matters. The Act makes provisions about: the functions of the Office of Communications; online infringement of copyright and penalties for infringement of copyright and performers’ rights; internet domain registries; the functions of the Channel Four Television Corporation; the regulation of television and radio services; the regulation of the use of the electromagnetic...

Previous issues of IRIS have reported on several copyright infringement cases decided in the English Courts, (see, IRIS 2010-3: 1/26, IRIS 2010-3: 1/27, IRIS 2010-4: 1/26). Another case has been decided recently in an action brought by a number of film studios, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, Warner Bros., Paramount, Disney, Columbia Pictures, against Newzbin Ltd., a Usenet indexer. That company was found liable for copyright infringement. Company accounts for 2009 indicate that Newzbin Ltd was a sizeable operation, with around 700,000 members, a turnover in excess of GBP 1 million, a profit...

Before the UK general election of 6 May 2010, a series of three television debates was held featuring the leaders of the three major UK parties. The Scottish National Party (SNP) was not included and its challenge to the BBC’s broadcast was rejected by a Scottish court. The BBC is required by its Charter and Agreement to do all it can to ensure that controversial subjects are treated with due accuracy and impartiality; this is reinforced by its editorial guidelines and by special rules applying during election periods; for example, requiring that “due weight is given to hearing the views and examining...

The Association for Television On-Demand (ATVOD) is now been formally “designated” as the co-regulator for UK Video on Demand (VOD) services. Formerly, it was an industry association. ATVOD has been restructured, “to ensure independence from the industry’s commercial interests and to make sure that protection of the public is its top priority.” It will have a board comprising five independent members and four industry members, from BSkyB, BT, Virgin Media and Five, to provide a “general industry perspective”. Regulation of these services is a requirement of the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive...

The Office of Communications (Ofcom), the UK communications regulator, has now made its final decisions in its long-running investigation into the pay-TV market (see IRIS 2009-1: 13/22 and IRIS 2009-8: 14/21). It has made a number of far-reaching decisions. The most important decision is that Sky must offer wholesale standard definition versions of Sky Sports 1 and 2 to other retailers, for example cable, terrestrial and IPTV, in order to secure fair and effective competition. The price for this ‘wholesale must-offer’ is set by Ofcom; Ofcom has set a price of GBP 10.63 for each of the channels,...