So, it would seem that despite firm opposition by the Liberal democrats the utter abortion that is the Digital Economy bill has made it through the house of lords and has been passed back to the commons.
It is the government’s hope that MPs will not exercise their right to debate this bill further, and if the debate doesn’t happen the bill will be made law.
I can not express how bad this authoritarian and protectionist bill is or how much damage it will do to the UK economy.
It will increase the already disastrous brain drain, as well as losing any party which supports this bill the sizeable UK technical vote.
Please write to your MP now and ask that the bill is debated in full!
Image “closed” by Gill Holgate
There’s no chance of the bill being debated in full. There is a very vague chance of the as-yet-undefined copyright clause (which will replace what used to be Clause 17) being excised before the bill is passed by MPs. I’ve tried to write it up in a clear manner (not easy) here: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,40094218,00.htm
Thanks for that right-up. It’s all very complicated, and it definitely seems that there are some very strong vested interests involved.
Shame, because I am fairly sure that this bill has cost Labour and the Conservatives the tech vote!