New Report Says File-Sharing Costs Jobs
- Posted on Mar 18th 2010 9:00AM by Matt Glazebrook
- Comments (3)
Remember, kids, when you download illegally, it isn't just millionaire pop stars that you hurt.
According to a new study, up to 1.2 million jobs in the European Union could be lost thanks to music and entertainment piracy over the next five years.
The report, commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce and backed by the EU and union the TUC, insists that some £218 billion of potential income for Europe's so-called creative industries may evaporate unless serious regulation occurs.
Britain will be worst hit, argues the survey, titled 'Building a Digital Economy: The Importance of Saving Jobs in the EU's Creative Industries.' Nine per cent of the UK's GDP comes from fields such as film, TV, music, publishing and advertising, and file-sharing and illegal downloading may contribute to around 250,000 redundancies by 2015, if the report's claims are to be believed.
The government are currently preparing a bill that seeks to restrain file-sharers and punish websites that host unlawfully copied material -- and they have the backing of Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC.
"The scale of the problem is truly frightening now -- let alone in the future if no firm actions against illegal filesharing are taken," he said. "If there was ever the proof needed to demonstrate why the Digital Economy Bill is imperative for the protection of our creative industries, this report is it."
According to a new study, up to 1.2 million jobs in the European Union could be lost thanks to music and entertainment piracy over the next five years.
The report, commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce and backed by the EU and union the TUC, insists that some £218 billion of potential income for Europe's so-called creative industries may evaporate unless serious regulation occurs.
Britain will be worst hit, argues the survey, titled 'Building a Digital Economy: The Importance of Saving Jobs in the EU's Creative Industries.' Nine per cent of the UK's GDP comes from fields such as film, TV, music, publishing and advertising, and file-sharing and illegal downloading may contribute to around 250,000 redundancies by 2015, if the report's claims are to be believed.
The government are currently preparing a bill that seeks to restrain file-sharers and punish websites that host unlawfully copied material -- and they have the backing of Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC.
"The scale of the problem is truly frightening now -- let alone in the future if no firm actions against illegal filesharing are taken," he said. "If there was ever the proof needed to demonstrate why the Digital Economy Bill is imperative for the protection of our creative industries, this report is it."
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
Glenn Smithat 3-23-2010
what a bunch of self-serving horse poop
Ross Nunanat 3-21-2010
I had to give up my career in the music industry due to a lack of work. I was a touring tech and now the bands can't afford crews any more. Show's are getting poorer do to a lack of quality techs out there, because we have moved on to try and feed our families. Wait till this hits the movie industry.
jtmat 3-22-2010
It's the way of the future. Money lost to one industry will now go elsewhere. It's not like somebody that downloads music is going to say 'I just saved $10, I guess I'll start on my retirement.' I personally work in the printing industry, and computers have been taking work away from me for years already. Don't get me wrong stealling isn't right but everything changes.