Graduated Response Initiatives in Europe: An Analysis of Initiatives and Stakeholder Discourses
31 Pages Posted: 31 Jan 2012
Date Written: August 15, 2009
Abstract
In France the government, the content sector and ISPs reached an agreement on an initiative to curb online copyright infringement on the Net in the so-called Olivennes Memorandum of Understanding of 23 November 2007. According to the MoU Internet users infringing on copyright laws receive two warnings of their illegal behaviour before being disconnected from the Internet. Other countries such as the UK and Italy are considering similar approaches. The graduated response initiatives have been hotly debated throughout Europe, both at the national and European level. In January 2008 the European Commission adopted a Communication on Creative Content Online (CCO),2 which aimed at launching actions to support the development of innovative business models and the deployment of cross-border delivery of diverse online creative content services. The first step is a stakeholder consultation on 11 questions. Two of the questions are related to graduate response and Internet filtering. This paper provides an overview of the current discussions in France and Britain. Furthermore it discusses the wider European debate on the basis of an analysis of the stakeholder responses to the CCO Communication by the Commission.
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