The U.K. government has outlined its coalition agreement – and there is no proposal to repeal the recently passed Digital Economy Act, which includes measures to tackle piracy.
The music industry will welcome the development, while small venues will also be cheering the pledge to “cut red tape to encourage the performance of more live music.” The previous government had launched a consultation on the Licensing Act, to consider exempting small venues from bureaucratic licensing procedures.
During the election campaign, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called for the repeal of parts of the controversial law that would allow for the suspension of Internet accounts. There was concern from all parties that the Act was rushed through parliament, but following the election the Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition have agreed on priorities for government.
Clegg, now deputy prime minister in a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, has clearly decided not to pursue the issue. Although Internet freedom campaigners portrayed it as a civil liberties issue, Liberal Democrats such as shadow culture secretary Don Foster also recognized the concerns of the creative industries about piracy.
Conservative Ed Vaizey has been appointed minister for culture, communications and creative industries. He will be a joint minister with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, under (Liberal Democrat) secretary of state Vince Cable.
Vaizey will oversee implementation of the Digital Economy Act, as well as being responsible for digital switchover of TV and radio, and will oversee the measures to ensure the rapid roll-out of superfast broadband.
Vaizey has already been attending music events, including the Ivor Novello Awards and the 2010 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
