PDF (530kb)   Response to the Ofcom Consultation on Online Infringement of Copyright and the Digital Economy Act 2010 Contents   1 Introduction   2 Why we need another round of consultation: severe errors and omissions in the consultation document No definition of the process by which evidence is collected The code does not currently require evidence to be robust No definition of the process by which customers are identified No provisions explaining how ISPs keep information about subscribers Threshold for determining a ‘relevant subscriber’ is not set No justification or explanation of data protection concerns Content of notifications needs standardisation, as required by the Act Appeals are misimplemented, requiring stronger burdens of proof on subscribers than the Act requires Definition of “copyright owner” is incorrect and could lead to incorrect advice, privacy abuses and unfair release of personal data Ofcom must explain how their code meets the Act’s criteria for approval WiFi operators still face problems and the Code could lead to closure of networks Summary of problems                3 Specific problems with the code other than non-compliance with the DEA   Effect of CIRs on future technical measures / the failure to warn about consequences of a CIR Advice to subscribers Subscriber Appeals Specific missing defences Evidential requirements of Copyright owners and ISPs 4 Answers to Ofcom’s own questions   5 Bringing Ofcom’s work back into line with their broader objective and those of the DEA 6 Summary: another round of consultation is needed     1 Introduction ORG believes another round of consultation is essential to meet Ofcom’s obligation to properly consult on these proposals.

Online Infringement of Copyright (Initial Obligations) Cost Sharing Consultation Document Response of the Open Rights Group The Open Rights Group (ORG) has been a consistent respondent to the Government’s consultations on the issues of copyright and welcomes the opportunity to respond to the BIS cost consultation.

Taking forward the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property: Second stage of commentary on copyright exceptions Response to the Intellectual Property Office Consultation The Open Rights Group (ORG) has consistently responded1 to the Government’s consultations on copyright exceptions and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the second stage of the Gowers Review.

Ofcom BBC DRM consultation response Signatories: Open Rights Group Electronic Frontier Foundation Free Software Foundation Somethin’ Else!

Friday 19 March 2010 What we are calling for We want a debate.

Introduction ORG thanks the Commission for the opportunity to comment on this important reflection paper, in advance of any more detailed proposals for copyright reform that might be forthcoming.

Prepared by Francis Davey – 1 December 2009 This is an explanation and analysis of the “copyright infringement provisions” the Digital Economy Bill — strictly speaking this means clauses 4 to 15 which amend the Communications Act 2003 to add new sections 124A to 124L, but I am also considering clauses 16 (definitions) and 17 (amendments to copyright law) as well.

Digital Economy Bill: Brief to Lords on Second Reading Summary The Bill needs considerable work.

Contents (i) Chair’s foreward  About the Open Rights Group  (ii) Copyright and online rights Copyright term extension P2P and ‘disconnection’ BBC and HD DTT (iii) Open Internet Telecoms Package and Blackout Europe (iii) Privacy Phorm and behavioural advertising Intercept Modernisation, Statebook RIPA Database State (iv) E-voting London Assembly (v) Democratic engagement European elections project (vi) Health of our organisation AC and board recruitment New volunteer activities Website and recruitment (vii) ORG’s future plans Supporter growth New grants and staff (viii) The international movement (ix) Financial report Chair’s foreward  As we at the Open Rights Group celebrate our fourth birthday we do so in a world where the issues and rights that our founders established us to inform and defend are now no longer the preserve of the fortunate few towards the top of the education and economic pile, but are of direct and every-day relevance to a growing majority of this country’s population who touch the digital world whenever they search for information, listen to music, watch television, travel, walk through a city centre and live and vote in a democracy.

Neelie KroesCommissioner for CompetitionEuropean Commission1049 Brussels, Belgium October 19, 2009 Dear Commissioner Kroes, Oracle should not be permitted to acquire its competitor, MySQL Introduction We are writing to express our opposition to the proposed acquisition of MySQL as part of the larger merger between Sun Microsystems and Oracle Corporation.

CONTENTS Executive Summary SECTION ONE: LICENSING IS THE SOLUTION1.

Open Rights Group The Open Rights Group (ORG) welcomes the Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) having taken up the recommendation by ORG and the Electoral Commission to examine the cost benefit of manual versus electronic counting of ballots.

PDF (160kb) of submission to OFCOM Dear Sir, We would like to raise an objection to the BBC/Ofcom consultation of Sept 3rd 2009, “Enquiry to Ofcom from BBC Free to View Ltd concerning its DTT High Definition Licence”.

Published 10 August 2009 1.

Published 6 February 2009 We hope the anger of groups representing consumers, citizens and information professionals did not escape the notice of the UKIPO at the launch of this consultation in London’s Institute of the Contemporary Arts in December 2008.

30 October 2008 Introduction When the Gowers Review was published in December 2006, the Open Rights Group welcomed it as “the most important critique of intellectual property in the UK of recent years”1.

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Published 21 May 2009.

Published 10 July 2009.

03 April 2009 Executive Summary The Digital Rights Agency discussion paper is a flawed approach to public engagement and undermines the legitimacy of the Digital Britain consultation.

Published 21 March 2009 ACTION 10In the final report we will examine measures needed to address the challenges for digital content in more detail, including opportunities for providing further support to foster UK creative ambition and alternative funding mechanisms to advertising revenues.

Comments published 4 March 2009.

Google Book Search Settlement European Commission Information HearingSubmission of the Open Rights Group 24 August 2009 1.

11 August 2008 The Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy represents an important opportunity to update European copyright law to maximise social welfare and citizens’ opportunities in the information society.

Published 8 April 2008 Introduction The Open Rights Group exists to defend the interests of citizens and consumers in the digital age.

Data Sharing Review: a consultation on the use and sharing of personal information in the public and private sectors 8 February 2008 Introduction   In a speech to the UK e-Summit in November 2002, Tony Blair, then Prime Minister, outlined his intention to harness the power of information technology to create “a new relationship between citizen and state”1.

Electronic Voting: A challenge to democracy?

Published 15 July 2009.

Contents Chair’s foreword About the Open Rights Group Digital Rights Issues Achievements this year The year ahead How you can help Financial Report Appendices Chair’s Forward Open Rights Group is a wonderful, spontaneous creation of the people who most care about the information age.

Table of content Chair’s Foreword About the Open Rights Group How ORG started Digital rights issues Achievements in our first two years Data retention Digital Rights Management Gowers Review and copyright term extension Electronic voting Bedding into the grassroots Creating tools for future campaigners Getting voices heard Working with the media The year ahead New issues Building the organisation How you can help ORG Support ORG Volunteer Standing Order form Financial Report Treasurer’s statement Accounts: Income and expenditure Accounts: Balance sheet Accounts: Notes to the accounts Independent Examiner’s report Appendix I: ORG people Appendix II: Company information Appendix III: Publications Chair’s Foreword Little more than two years ago, what is now the Open Rights Group (ORG) was just an idea in the heads of half-a-dozen individuals.