Copyright UK Parliament
Last week Pete Wishart MP, the Scottish National Party Member of Parliament for Perth and North Perthshire, secured a Private Members debate on Intellectual Property and its contribution to economic growth. Pete Wishart is the SNP Westminster Spokesperson for the Constitution, Home Affairs, Culture, Media and Sport and International Development. Mr Wishart started the debate by referring to his entry in the register of interests, which indicates that he receives royalty payments from EMI/Ridge Records for his recorded works with Runrig, with whom he serves as an unremunerated director.
Emotions ran high during the debate, with members accusing various organisations of disregarding rights holders in favour of the economic arguments made in reports such as the Hargreaves Review. Wishart commented that he did not agree with the assessment that the MP3 player could have been invented in the UK if an exception on private copying had been in place. It is currently illegal under UK law for individuals to ‘format shift’, which is the term used to copy the contents of a CD they have legally purchased into MP3s for their own consumption.
Eric Joyce MP made the argument that seeking to block access to websites, and unnaturally promoting ‘official’ sites results, is in itself censorship, and warned members in attendance at the debate that removing a site from search results does not remove the site from the website. He concluded by highlighting the importance that people come forward in the consultation process “not only with emotive arguments—they are often based simply on retaining the status quo and without any movement, regardless of technological shifts—but with evidence”.
Representing the Government Mark Prisk MP, Minister for Business and Enterprise was the last to speak. Where he worringly announced that..
“we are closely considering whether to block access to websites that infringe copyright… We will have something to say about that shortly, but, as I would like to continue to have a positive working relationship with my ministerial colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, I shall not pre-empt what they are about to say. An announcement is imminent, and I think that it will be welcomed”.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has subsequently distanced itself from these claims.
The full transcript from the debate can be read on the online publication of Hansard. The debate can also be viewed again on Parliamentlive.tv. Below are all of our tweets from during the debate.
Westminster Hall debate at 9:30 on Intellectual property and its contribution to economic growth. Watch live here parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.as…
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Pete Wishart MP encourages as many people as possible to respond to IPO consultations as part of #Hargreaves review #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Peter Wishart says we “need to pursue those who live off the content of others” #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Peter Wishart: There is a haphazard arrangement of IPO in BIS and creative industries in DCMS #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Peter Wishart would like a Minister overseeing whole of digital economy #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Peter Wishart: Movement on orphan works is sensible and the right thing to do #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Some serious allegations being banded about in this debate #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Peter Wishart disputes whether MP3 player could have been invented in UK if private copying exception had been in place #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Peter Wishart MP doesn’t believe parody industry is currently being restrained by copyright #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Would Peter Wishart MP welcome any of the #Hargreaves review? Yes welcomes DCE, but contests economic analysis #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Peter Wishart MP says educational copyright exceptions are ‘dangerous’ #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Newport State of Mind parody case cited in the #WestminsterHall debate on Intellectual Property
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@EricJoyce We have to accept there are implications from the way business is conducted across the globe #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@EricJoyce Copyright arguments tend to fall into big tech companies vs creators #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@EricJoyce There’s a trend for Gov to want to heavily regulate internet, across the globe these are undemocratic Govs #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@EricJoyce argues that current stance is to protect existing industries, must not restrict evolving businesses #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@EricJoyce ISPs can close a site but they can’t restrict the existence of a site #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@EricJoyce – When you call for sites to be unnaturally promoted above others, that’s censorship #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Mark Field MP argues terrorism is funded through abuse of copyright and sale of music and DVDs #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Jim Dowd MP says a balance needs to be struct between consumer and producer #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Jim Dowd MP thinks that the desire for deregulation needs to be examined #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@ChiOnwurah, Shadow Innovation Minister now speaking #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@ChiOnwurah IP is not only a matter for creative industries and is an important part of the economic case for innovation #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@ChiOnwurah Internet is becoming an important platform for commerce and the opportunity to share ideas #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@ChiOnwurah Universities overprotection of IP are making it difficult for the commercial success of ideas #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@ChiOnwurah argues illegal file sharing is costing the creative industries dearly under current business models #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@ChiOnwurah speaks of her meeting with @moshimonsters #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
.@ChiOnwurah asks if Government has plans to look more widely at IP such as patent law and IP’s role in standardisation? #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Mark Prisk, Minister for Business and Enterprise says IP needs to allow for future innovation #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Mark Prisk says the Government seeks an IP solution that helps businesses and creators to realise all opportunities #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Mark Prisk cites bringing charities into music licensing and extending copyright length as measures that have protected IP #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
Mark Prisk: Intention of consultation is to make it easier to obtain licenses, remove bureaucracy & make innovation easier #WestminsterHall
— Coadec (@Coadec) February 7, 2012
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