BT and TalkTalk challenge Digital Economy Act

Posted 8th July 2010 at 2:32pm by Ewan Taylor-Gibson

Leading internet service providers (ISPs) TalkTalk and BT have come together to battle the government's Digital Economy Act.

The companies have joined forces to file papers with the High Court and call for a judicial review into the legislation, which they believe did not face enough scrutiny before it was rushed through at the end of the last government.

BT and TalkTalk have suggested measures included to tackle online filesharing could have a negative impact on both individuals and businesses.

The ISPs have also suggested that clarity is needed over the legislation, particularly as they believe it may not be compatible with European rules over privacy.

Gavin Patterson, Chief Executive Officer of BT Retail, said: "It's disappointing that we feel the need to take action but we feel we have no choice. We have to do this for our customers who otherwise run the risk of being treated unfairly."

Earlier this year, TalkTalk held a briefing in Westminster to highlight how the Digital Economy Act may just lead to the creation of new tools which allow people who share files to remain undetected.

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TECHTOTALLER, 9th July 2010.

The fact that they're challenging the act on privacy grounds is totally bogus. It's not about that. ISPs are concerned that the reason people sign up with them is so they can get all the great content on the internet. If they've got to pay for that, then whither the ISPs? They need to be more honest about it.

Record labels are going down the tubes and other creative ppl are struggling to make rent. In the meantime, broadband providers - a massive corporation- are making fat profits. I know whose side I'm on.
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