Changes to UK Laws Could Kill YouTube - But Save Small Gigs
Tuesday, 09 March 2010
Written by TJ Ireland
Last week two controversial government proposals have resurfaced in the news that could drastically change the way fans listen, find and watch their favourite music.
Firstly, video and music websites like You Tube and Vimeo could be forced to close in the UK if a controversial new version of the government’s Digital Economy Bill is made law by parliament.
Meanwhile small music venues are holding out hope that they will soon be exempt from the overbearing Licensing Act 2003 that has been slowly killing tiny gigs in the UK.
The Digital Economy Bill was originally intended to protect record companies’ profits from peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, where users have been sharing huge amounts of songs and films for free. But the latest proposals, passed by the House of Lords this week, would give courts the right to issue injunctions against any website accused of hosting a ‘substantial’ amount of copyrighted material without permission.
Campaigners say as well as huge sites like YouTube and Vimeo, many small websites would be forced to close or remove material, due to the threat of expensive legal action from massive record companies. Cafés, pubs and airports are also concerned that they could be prosecuted if their Wi-Fi networks are used to illegally download or share copy-righted material. Critics say the bill could kill file-sharing, music fan sites, and even Wi-Fi itself.
The bill will now move to the house of commons, where it could become law by April. Luckily it won’t affect new sites like Spotify and LastFM, which have developed legal, profit-making music sites without pissing off major record labels.
Since 2005, the government has also been forcing any venue playing live music to comply with strict licensing laws, no matter how tiny the gig. The government claimed that by reforming licensing laws, there would be ‘an explosion’ in live music in the UK, as licenses for bigger venues would be cheaper. But a report by the Live Music Forum a few ago found 7 per cent of small venues that used to put on small gigs are no longer programming any live music.
The Met police’s form 696 has also been causing venues headaches, requiring for the names and addresses of all DJs and musicians and details of what type of music will be played, 14 days before gigs. There were even accusations that police where trying to stop certain types of music –garage, grime and any gig featuring James Blunt covers could be stopped if the police thought there might be trouble.
Ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are currently deciding whether to allow gig venues that hold less than 100 people to operate without a licence. Musicians and small venues say that gigs for up to 250 people should be exempt, saving many more small venues and pubs from crippling licensing costs.
The Musician’s Union, responding to the government’s proposals, say ‘very few venues would be able to profit from the exemption if it covered only audiences of fewer than 100.’
Ministers will make their decision on the licensing act in March, and the Digital Economy Bill is expected to be enshrined as law before a general election in May.
So watch this space. By next year, you might find that that great little band aren’t playing gigs in the pub down the road anymore. And you can’t even look them up on You Tube when you get home.
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