U.K. Says Parliament Ready To Ban Illegal File Sharing If Companies Don't Step In

London, England (AHN) - British authorities are considering enacting tougher laws to combat illegal file sharing online. Lord Triesman, the parliamentary Under Secretary for Innovation, Universities and Skills, told the BBC in an interview that unless software companies come together to fight the problem, then Parliament will be forced to step in with legislation.

"For the most part I think there are going to be successful voluntary schemes between the creative industries and ISPs. Our preferred position is that we shouldn't have to regulate," Triesman said. But, "If we can't get voluntary arrangements we will legislate," he warned.

The British have been pressed by the United States to further support intellectual property rights as Washington and software companies continue to fight against digital piracy.

However, while recording studios and major software companies in the United States have targeted even end-user pirates and minors, Triesman assured that London has no interest in "hounding 14-year-olds who shared music." Parliament, he stressed, will take aim at groups of software pirates that sell bootleg copies of programs, games, movies and music, for profit - not suers who download songs to listen to without having to pay for it, usually over peer-to-peer (P2P) programs.

Nonetheless, Triesman warned, "we have some simple choices to make. If creative artists can't earn a living as a result of the work they produce, then we will kill off creative artists and that would be a tragedy."