OFCOM has published for consultation a draft initial obligations code of practice designed to prevent online copyright infringement. The code, entitled ‘Online Infringement of Copyright and the Digital Economy Act 2010’ will:
· enable those whose copyright has been violated to require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to notify their subscribers if the Internet Protocol addresses associated with them are reported by copyright owners as being used to infringe copyright;
· require ISPs to keep track of the number of reports about each subscriber; and
· require ISPs to compile, on an anonymous basis, a list of those who are reported on above a threshold to be set in the initial obligations code.
The copyright owner will be able to apply for a court order to obtain personal details so that they can take action against those included on the list.
The consultation closes on 30 July 2010.