John Robertson MP

John Robertson MP (Labour) MP for Glasgow North West. Joint Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Communications. Member of the All Party Internet Group, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Music Group.

Copyright

House of Commons debate Internet Regulation 4 June 2008

The IWF system of notification and takedown orders could form the basis of a broader system for tackling content, whereby ISPs would be required to block material in breach of the law that they were notified of. The Minister would no doubt ask how such a body could be resourced and funded, but I do not see that as an insurmountable problem. In negotiations between ISPs and the music industry, the rights holders are suggesting that they would take on policing and monitoring content.

While ISPs may not be responsible for producing and editing content that appears on their servers, they are the only ones with the power to deal with it, so why do the Government not force them to do so with a licensing regime? There has been movement from the Government on internet-based crimes such as grooming, which makes it bizarre that what would be illegal content in any other sphere is left unfettered simply because it appears online. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has also announced that ISPs will face regulation in 2009 unless they take action on copyright infringement, but that is too late—we needed it yesterday—and far too limited.

House of Commons debate Point of Order Sound Recordings (Copyright Term Extension) 5 December 2007

Pete Wishart, supported by Mr. Ian Cawsey MP, Mr. Mark Field MP, Sandra Gidley MP, John Robertson MP, Rosemary McKenna MP, Adam Price MP, Mr. Greg Knight MP, John Hemming MP, Stewart Hosie MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP and Janet Anderson MP, presented a Bill to extend beyond 50 years the copyright term of sound recordings; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time on Friday 7 March, and to be printed [Bill 33].

Westminster Hall debate Intellectual Property 10 January 2007

As chairman of the all-party group on music, I ask him whether he agrees that the law must be strengthened to cover those people who facilitate piracy. As a musician, he knows that the basis of copyright is to give the musician and other creators of music the chance to make a living. Does he think that it is important for the Minister to take up that matter?

Written question Copyright Directive 18 December 2006

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he plans to make to the European Commission's review of the Copyright Directive.

Written question Gowers Review of Intellectual Property 18 December 2006

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry on the conclusions of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property; and if he will make a statement.

Written question John Robertson 23 May 2006 Copyright

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

(1) what recent guidance his Department has issued to (a) internet service providers, (b) telecommunication companies and (c) electronic hardware companies on discouraging the illegal use of (i) music and (ii) other creative content online;

(2) what measures the Government are taking to encourage (a) internet service providers, (b) telecommunications companies and (c) electronic hardware companies to promote responsible copyright awareness programmes to consumers.

Ian McCartney

Although the IT and telecommunications sectors are not specifically being targeted, the Patent Office, as the DTI agency responsible for IP, is continuing to work with a range of partners to deliver a programme of IP awareness raising among all sectors of business. This builds on the success last year of the 'What is the key?' initiative, and includes responsible use of other people's intellectual property, as embodied by the CREATE principles. These principles were developed and endorsed by the Creative Industries IP Forum, which was chaired by Lord Sainsbury and the then Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism.

Internet Service Providers (ISP)

Written answers John Robertson 7 June 2006 Internet Service Providers

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance her Department has issued to internet service providers on their responsibilities for illegal traffic hosted on their networks.

Open Source Software

Signed Early Day Motion 179 Software in Schools 21 November 2006

That this House congratulates the Open University and other schools, colleges and universities for utilising free and open source software to deliver cost-effective educational benefit not just for their own institutions but also the wider community; and expresses concern that Becta and the Department for Education and Skills, through the use of outdated purchasing frameworks, are effectively denying schools the option of benefiting from both free and open source software and the value and experience small and medium ICT companies could bring to the schools market.

Privacy and personal information

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) if she will assess the merits and feasibility of the Government establishing an online dashboard to help internet users find out what personal data is held about them online; (2) if she will assess the feasibility of a system which would allow UK internet users to withdraw all personal data held about them online.

Links

• John Robertson MP Website
• John Robertson MP TheyWorkForyou.com
• wikipedia: John Robertson (Glasgow politician)