Public Policy Connections

UK Government Considering New Measures to Tackle Illegal File Sharing and Solicits Stakeholder Feedback

The UK Government is considering new measures on tackling illegal file sharing. Under new proposals, internet service providers would be obliged to block access to download sites, throttle broadband connections, or temporarily cut off access for repeat offenders.
Read news story.

To enable stakeholders to provide feedback on the new proposals, the UK Government issued an explanatory statement and extended the current consultation on unlawful P2P file sharing to 29 September.
Read BIS news release.

SLA Joins Alliance Calling for Investigation into Google Books Settlement

Newly formed Open Books Alliance seeks resolution on issues of copyright, access, anti-trust, and privacy.
Read SLA's press release.

SLA has been active in discussions with Google about the proposed Book Search Settlement.

Roberta I. Shaffer Appointed Law Librarian of Congress

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has appointed Roberta I. Shaffer to the position of Law Librarian of Congress.
Read news release from the Library of Congress.

New Zealand to Implement Digital Continuity Plan

Archives New Zealand is to lead the initiation of New Zealand’s Digital Continuity Action Plan, developed as an all public sector program to assist and support agencies overcome issues with storing, accessing, using and reusing the digital information they produce.
Read press release from the New Zealand Government.

New Net Neutrality Bill Introduced

Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) has introduced H.R. 3458, The Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a national broadband policy, safeguard consumer rights, spur investment and innovation, and for related purposes. The bill, co-sponsored by Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA), has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Read Congressman Markey's press release.

Representative Markey introduced similar Internet freedom legislation in the 110th Congress, H.R. 5353, which Representative Eshoo also co-sponsored. In the 109th Congress, Markey offered a net neutrality amendment to the COPE Act in May 2006.

Canadian Copyright Consultations Move Forward

As reported in our 21 July blog, the Government of Canada is hosting a nationwide consultation on copyright modernization. The government, as stated on the Copyright Consultations Web site, believes that all Canadians have a stake in this dialogue and has encouraged Canadians to join the discussion and to express their views throughout the consultation period, from July 20 to September 13, 2009.  Stakeholders, experts and Canadians have been invited to participate in a series of round tables and town halls to discuss copyright. On 21 July, the Canadian Library Association participated in a round table in Calgary, voicing copyright concerns that concern libraries.
Read the transcript form the 21 July round table.
View Round Table/Town Hall schedule.

New Web Archiving Service Available from CDL

California Digital Library's new Web Archiving Service (WAS) enables researchers and librarians to capture, curate, and preserve Web sites. The WAS is the result of a 4.5-year grant awarded by the Library of Congress National Digital Information and Infrastructure Preservation Program (NDIIPP). The NDIIPP’s mission is to develop a national strategy to collect, preserve, and make available digital content, especially materials that are created only in digital formats, for current and future generations.
Read UC news release.