Some good news on appeals for consumers accused of illegal file sharing
01 October 2010
The Government's decision not to charge consumers who appeal against a notification for online copyright infringement is good news. Any system that accuses people of illegal online activity must be fair and clear, and must be based on sound evidence of wrongdoing before any action is taken. The notification should also make it very clear that people have the right to appeal, and not bury it in the small print. The Panel does have concerns, though, about how consumer-friendly the appeals process will be. We believe that it has to be simple and easy to access for anyone to use. An independent third party to advise consumers on the process, and how to gather evidence to support their appeal will also be essential. And what happens if someone is successful in winning their appeal? Some level of compensation would seem reasonable in the circumstances.