Opposition to file-sharers being cut off shown by Featured Artists

Measures that would make file-sharing a crime were unanimously voted against by members of the UKs featured Artists Coalition (FAC) at their recent inaugural meeting in London.

In order to campaign for regulations and laws that would be effective, and also for business practices that would be both equitable and transparent the FAC was formed so artists could speak with a collective voice.

According to the members present there were discussions of the new body’s general logistics and aims as well as a unanimous show of hands with regards to criminalizing file-shares. The prevention of access to information by fans of their favourite acts of found to be involved in file-sharing by any legal body was something there was deep concern regarding.

A planned response to the impending Digital Britain report was discussed following the interim version of the report proposed that anti-piracy measures would be enforced by a Right Agency, which is when this issue came up. One measure that the FAC has shown opposition to is the three-strikes system in which those who repeatedly infringe copyright risk their broadband connection being cut off, which is legislation that is currently being debated in France.

Early summer is date issued for the final Digital Britain report. The interim report advised that in order to make it “significantly easier” for the most significant offenders to have action taken against them measures would be required where information about users that use P2P network to share music were passed on the rights-holders by ISPs, although it did not report a three-strike system.

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, Mark Kelly, Rd O’Brien from Radiohead, rapper Master Shortie, Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B, Mark Kelly from Marillion, Kate Nash and Billy Brag are the first board of directors for the FAC. Also amongst the dozens of artist present at the recent London’s Heaven venue were Robbie Williams and David Gray.