Q&A: Jim Killock, Open Rights Group

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Software and hardware developers could end up with constant new obligations to deal with infringement using their technologies and that will spiral costs up, it will prevent technologies from reaching consumers [and] it could cause all of kinds of damage to innovation. That is bad for everybody.

What does your group feel is the best way to deal with the copyright issues as they grow?

Well, I am not sure it is growing. Actually it is reducing by most recent estimations because the legal offerings are getting better and they are getting closer to what people want.

People who infringe copyright [do so] because they are looking for access to that material quickly, easily and cheaply. If you can do those things in a way that is better for consumers then actually you are going to stop people from infringing.

That is exactly what has happened with BBC iplayer and Spotify. I bet the number of people file sharing BBC programmes after they are released on television has been hugely reduced since the release of iPlayer and I bet that Spotify has reduced a lot of casual infringers as well.

That is what the evidence shows so that is the way to do it, provide the legal offerings in a way that consumers want.

What do you think your chances are, along with the other people here, of stopping the bill from going through as it is at the moment?

I think the Lords debate has been encouraging. We have seen both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats looking at the problems in the bill very closely, and also Lord Whitty one of the Government’s own back benchers, so there is a chance that some of the bigger issues will be dealt with.

Obviously we have a very big fight on our hands. It is a test as much for the Government’s ability to show that they actually understand the industry and where consumers' social benefits really lie as to whether they can get this bill right and that will be a voting issue for some people too.

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