The boss of music streaming and download site We7 has torn into the government’s new policy on illegal filesharing, branding plans for a “three strikes and your out” system here in the UK as “missing the heart of the issue.”
Speaking after Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, outlined the government’s new approach at an event this morning, We7’s CEO, Steve Purdham expressed his displeasure at moves to cut off pirates’ internet access completely.
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“Piracy is a reaction to an unsustainable situation, where reasonable, legitimate access to music has struggled to match demand. File-sharing sites have risen in the gulf between what consumers wanted and what has been available. Internet users don’t want to use p2p networks.”
Purdham also said that punters shouldn’t be expected to change their habits in order to find ways for artists to make money. “People want to support the music they care about,” he said. “But it is not for them to find a way to do that; the onus is on the government and the industry to monetise music instead of demonising and punishing the general public.”
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