Ofcom May Impose a File-Sharing Regulation

File sharing may soon fall under regulation from Ofcom, MacWorld reports.

According to Ofcom boss Ed Richards (photo right) the regulator is "ready to play a constructive role" in the current clash file-sharing has stirred. Richards made it clear that the topic never left their attention: "To date, Ofcom has not made a lot of public noise about the piracy issue…that should not be mistaken for a lack of interest or concern. He pointed out the parties involved in the phenomenon which can have each just as much to say:

"Our formal focus may be limited. But this sort of piracy is something that affects network operators, ISPs, content creators and consumers - and as the converged regulator we have of course been keeping a watchful eye on developments."

The next issue Richards then addressed was the necessity telecoms and network companies will be faced with: they’ll have to spend significantly in a more reliable and solid infrastructure for the next-generation internet. Of course, engaging in such investment would be pointless if those companies are not convinced of the profitableness of this venture in future.

If at first networks were so eager to persuade customers of the advantages Internet presents them with in terms of accessing information and music online (but then, of course, they were merely getting their business going) now, things seem to take another turn. "An operator investing in next-generation networks will not want it clogged up with illegal peer-to-peer content if that means no-one will pay to ensure a return on the investment, as we have seen in some Asia Pacific markets," Richards commented. "And content providers, self evidently, do not want illegal traffic undermining their investment in IPR."