“Downloading somebody’s work without paying for it – whether it be music, film or computer games – is not a victimless act. It poses a genuine threat to our creative industries and to the livelihoods of talented, hard-working people striving to get a foothold in them,” he warned.
“We believe that temporary account suspension as a last resort, in the most serious cases, is worth considering to allow these new business models to develop.”
He added that the government welcomed new commercial offers like Spotify or Vodafone’s DRM-free music deal that give consumers a range of legal choices.
“Britain’s got talent. But if we want the next generation of musicians, filmmakers, developers or designers to succeed, we need to address urgently this threat to the sustainability of our creative industries,” added Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw. “Unlawful file sharing costs businesses that invest in new talent millions each year.”
Their views are backed by singer Lily Allen, who has publicly urged fans not to download music illegally. Lily Allen claims that it hits emerging artists particularly hard and is a real threat to the UK’s standing as the world’s best music nation. However, reports out today suggest Lily Allen is quitting the industry altogether…
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