EuroISPA …

EuroISPA                                                                                         01 April 2008




                                       EuroISPA Press Release

  EuroISPA calls for sustainable, effective and proportionate response to online piracy

EuroISPA is concerned by recent court cases and national initiatives aiming at requiring Internet access
providers to assume a quasi-judicial role in limiting the online activities of their users. We feel that
imposing such a role is not alone disproportionate but also creates significant dangers for key aspects of
data protection, human rights principles, and the development of the Information Society as a whole.

EuroISPA's members condemn unlawful online content of all types. The lawful dissemination of
copyrighted works is in the interest of all parties who wish to promote the availability of legitimate content
in the fight against piracy. EuroISPA believes that the development of innovative content services that
meet consumer expectations and needs is the most effective way to prevent online copyright
infringement. This is far more effective than measures aimed at restricting the rights of users to access
online information. In this respect, content owners should support enforcement methods relying less on
sanctioning users but more on preventing and informing consumers about potential copyright violations.
We are also concerned and disappointed to see a flood of court cases taken by copyright holders against
Internet providers, which can only serve to undermine and prevent the current and future productive
cooperation that is needed to address the problem of online piracy.

There is considerable doubt as to whether there is an effective and proportionate way to apply filtering
measures to prevent online copyright infringements, particularly since relatively simple and easy to
implement encryption techniques can render these measures totally ineffective. Filtering of all Internet
traffic would also impose considerable delays on throughput. Furthermore, increasing Internet access
costs risks increasing the problem of the "digital divide" that both industry and governments are trying to
eliminate.

In addition, no existing filtering technology will allow full use of current technologies while ensuring that
legitimate user behaviours, the right of free speech and access to information are not restricted. As the
European Newspaper Publishers' Association, itself a key member of the rights holder community, stated
recently: "Any responsibility of access providers for content online filtering or monitoring would constitute
a threat to the right of freedom of expression for all editorial content providers." Similar concerns have
also been expressed by other rights holders such as the European Publishers' Council and the European
Federation of Magazine Publishers.

In this context, calls for termination of customers' internet connections due to alleged copyright
infringements, as currently discussed in several EU Member States, appear excessive and would benefit
neither ISPs nor rights holders.

ISPs need, society needs and rights holders need, a sustainable, effective and proportionate answer to
these questions. EuroISPA remains, as ever, a willing and constructive partner in helping to find this
answer.




                          EuroISPA EEIG: Rue Montoyer 39, bte. 3, B ­ 1000 Brussels
                   Tel: +32 2 503 22 65 ­ Fax: +32 2 503 42 95 ­ secretariat@euroispa.org
                                           http://www.euroispa.org
EuroISPA                                                                                     01 April 2008


Contact:

Sarah Brabender
Public Affairs Manager
EuroISPA
Rue Montoyer 39, bte 3,
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Email: Sarah@euroispa.org
Tel: +32 2 503 2265 / Fax: +32 2 503 4295




About EuroISPA:

EuroISPA is the world's largest association of Internet Services Providers, representing approximately
1000 ISPs across the EU. EuroISPA is a major voice of the Internet industry on information society
subjects such as cybercrime, data protection, e-commerce regulation, EU telecommunications law and
safe use of the Internet. Its secretariat is located in Brussels. EuroISPA is predominantly funded by its
member and associate member associations and the members of the EuroISPA Industry Forum. For
further information on this and other matters concerning EuroISPA, please contact Richard Nash,
Regulatory Affairs Manager and Secretary General, at the address set out below.




                         EuroISPA EEIG: Rue Montoyer 39, bte. 3, B ­ 1000 Brussels
                  Tel: +32 2 503 22 65 ­ Fax: +32 2 503 42 95 ­ secretariat@euroispa.org
                                          http://www.euroispa.org