Digital Economy Bill could empower government to force internet companies to act on piracy

Search engine companies may be compelled by government to implement an "anti-piracy code"

Google and other internet companies could be compelled to implement an 'anti-piracy code' as part of the forthcoming Digital Economy Bill.

It comes just a week after it was revealed that Google and other search firms could introduce a 'voluntary anti-piracy code' later this year following pressure from the entertainment industry.

Already, though, the government looks like it plans to ratchet up the pressure. Baroness Peta Buscombe, during a discussion on the Digital Economy Bill in the House of Lords, said that while a full agreement had not yet been reached, this voluntary code could take effect as soon as 1 July.

She continued: "Since the idea was last discussed in [parliament], Intellectual Property Office officials have chaired a further round-table meeting between search engines and representatives of the creative industries.

"While there are still elements of detail to be settled, the group is now agreed on the key content of the code and I expect an agreement to be reached very soon.

"All parties have also agreed that the code should take effect, and the targets in it be reached, by 1 June this year."

It seems, though, that the government has a Plan B, in case the search firms fail to reach an agreement.

According to an amendment to the Digital Economy Bill, spotted by TorrentFreak, the government could force Google and others to implement an anti-piracy code, whether they want to or not.

"The Secretary of State may impose by order a code of practice (‘the code') for search engine providers with the purpose of minimising the availability and promotion of copyright infringing services, including those which facilitate copyright infringement by their users," the amendment reads.

However, there could be room for Google and others to push back, as before imposing any anti-piracy code, the Secretary of State will have to publish a draft code and consider submissions made by search engine providers, rights holders and their representatives, plus any other interested parties.

This news comes as UK ISPs gear up to target 'pirates' with stern letters, in a bid to dampen the demand for illegal downloads.

Back in October, Computing reported that a "hardcore of MPs" were "looking to beef-up the new Digital Economy Bill by forcing search engines to tackle piracy by de-listing sites linked to piracy, and removing other content alleged to infringe copyright from their results".