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Digital
ISPA vent DEA-spleen through hero and villain awards
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 9 June 2010
The Internet Service Providers Association has announced the nominees for its annual awards, and has used its infamous Hero and Villain categories to vent the ISP industry’s collective spleen on all things Digital Economy Act.
Among the nominees for Internet Hero Of The Year are MP Tom Watson, who opposed the controversial DEA in parliament, the legislation that put a three-strikes system for combating internet piracy on the statute book. Grass roots campaigner Bridget Fox and campaigning group 38 Degrees are also up for the Hero prize for their anti-DEA efforts.
Meanwhile, up for the Villain prize are Liberal Lord Tim Clement-Jones for the pro-music industry amendments he proposed to the DEA; another Lord, Peter Mandelson, for ensuring three-strikes was part of the DEA proposals; and the whole of parliament, for making the DEA law.
It’s not the first time the music industry’s anti-piracy efforts have featured in the Villain category, record label trade body the BPI being a previous nominee. However, it’s the first time one issue has dominated the shortlists for both the Hero and Villain categories.
Of course, the ISP sector might be better off focusing on failings within its own industry if it’s set on helping Britain’s digital economy – ie the totally inept BT on which much of the internet relies, the total lack of customer service at most major ISPs, and the delusion of many net firms that they are the content providers of the future, even though every ISP-created content platform is totally rubbish.
Though I accept that wouldn’t be as amusing.
