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Web giants lash out at Digital Bill
INTERNET giants united yesterday to urge Business secretary Peter Mandelson to change a clause in the new digital economy bill that could give future ministers sweeping powers to change copyright law.
Facebook, Google, Yahoo and eBay wrote directly to Mandelson asking him to throw out clause 17 to coincide with the second reading of the recently announced bill in the Lords.
However, the government says the introduction of Clause 17 will help reduce internet piracy and cut copyright theft.
The letter voices support for parts of the bill and a “shared respect” for copyright but expressed “grave concerns” over proposed measures “which risk stifling innovation and damaging the government’s vision for a digital Britain”.