October 21, 2009

By By Andre Paine, London

U.K. Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw has told parliamentarians that proposals to tackle illegal file-sharing will require court orders.

The government toughened up its proposals in August to include possible suspension of Internet access for file-sharers, but Bradshaw has now offered some assurances on the controversial measures.

Bradshaw told MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that suspension "would be as a very last resort for serial and serious infringement, would be subject to a strict two-stage process."

"It wouldn't just happen on the basis of an accusation," he said at the Oct. 20 committee hearing. "Firstly there would need to be a court order for any of the technical measures."

A court order would not be needed in the majority of cases - a warning letter would be the first move under the plan - and he stressed that there would be a right of appeal.

The government is set to outline its proposals in the coming weeks.

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