Money spent in 2010-11 FY on Digital Economy Act and estimates for spending in 2011-12 FY

The request was successful.

Dear Office of Communications,

Cost to the tax payer of preventing copyright infringement online under the Digital Economy Act.

Please provide the sum total spent in the 2010-2011 financial year(April 2010 to March 2011 inclusive) for all activities across all cost codes for all work in relation to the copyright infringement prevention measures of the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Please include all related work such as internal and external (judicial) reviews of the Act itself, and policy work in relation to drafting of the Initial Obligations Code and (Initial Obligations) (Sharing of Costs) Order 2011.

Please also include policy work in relation to the use of DEA S17 & S18 (web blocking) provisions, and any related policy work looking at "self regulation" (industry-lead) alternatives to achieving a similar outcome to the provisions described in S17 and S18 on a non-statutory basis.

Please provide any cost estimates available for the ongoing work in the policy areas described above for the current financial year(April 2011 to March 2012) and future years according to the latest projections on the department's five year plan (or equivalent).

Yours faithfully,

James Firth

Editor, slightlyrightofcentre.com

Caroline Douglas, Office of Communications

Dear Mr Firth,

Freedom of Information: Right to know request

Thank you for your request for information asking for the cost to the tax
payer of preventing copyright infringement online under the Digital
Economy Act. Your request was received on 19 May 2011.

Generally any information provided will consist of copies of original
documents in paper or electronic format.

Where we hold the information you have requested we will endeavour to
answer your request in full and within 20 working days. If we are unable
to provide the information requested, we will explain why the information
has not been provided.

If you have any queries then please contact
[1][Ofcom request email]. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION REQUEST

If you are unhappy with the response or level of service you have received
in relation to your request from Ofcom, you may ask for an internal
review. If you ask us for an internal review of our decision, it will
be treated as a formal complaint and will be subject to an independent
review within Ofcom. We will acknowledge the complaint and inform you of
the date by which you might expect to be told the outcome.

The following outcomes are possible:

o the original decision is upheld; or

o the original decision is reversed or modified.

Timing

If you wish to exercise your right to an internal review you should
contact us within two months of the date of this letter. There is no
statutory deadline for undertaking internal reviews and it will depend
upon the complexity of the case. However, we aim to conclude all such
reviews within 20 working days, and up to 40 working days in exceptional
cases. We will keep you informed of the progress of any such review. If
you wish to request an internal review, you should contact:

Graham Howell

The Secretary to the Corporation

Ofcom

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

From: James Firth [mailto:[FOI #72102 email]]

Sent: 19 May 2011 13:25

To: Information Requests

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Money spent in 2010-11 FY on
Digital Economy Act and estimates for spending in 2011-12 FY

Dear Office of Communications,

Cost to the tax payer of preventing copyright infringement online

under the Digital Economy Act.

Please provide the sum total spent in the 2010-2011 financial

year(April 2010 to March 2011 inclusive) for all activities across

all cost codes for all work in relation to the copyright

infringement prevention measures of the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Please include all related work such as internal and external

(judicial) reviews of the Act itself, and policy work in relation

to drafting of the Initial Obligations Code and (Initial

Obligations) (Sharing of Costs) Order 2011.

Please also include policy work in relation to the use of DEA S17 &

S18 (web blocking) provisions, and any related policy work looking

at "self regulation" (industry-lead) alternatives to achieving a

similar outcome to the provisions described in S17 and S18 on a

non-statutory basis.

Please provide any cost estimates available for the ongoing work in

the policy areas described above for the current financial

year(April 2011 to March 2012) and future years according to the

latest projections on the department's five year plan (or

equivalent).

Yours faithfully,

James Firth

Editor, slightlyrightofcentre.com

show quoted sections

Caroline Douglas, Office of Communications

Dear Mr Firth,

Freedom of Information: Right to know request

Thank you for your request for information asking for the cost to the tax
payer of preventing copyright infringement online under the Digital
Economy Act which Ofcom received on 19 May 2011 and has considered under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).

You asked:

Please provide the sum total spent in the 2010-2011 financial year(April
2010 to March 2011 inclusive) for all activities acrossall cost codes for
all work in relation to the copyright infringement prevention measures of
the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Please include all related work such as internal and external (judicial)
reviews of the Act itself, and policy work in relation to drafting of the
Initial Obligations Code and (Initial Obligations) (Sharing of Costs)
Order 2011.

Please also include policy work in relation to the use of DEA S17 & S18
(web blocking) provisions, and any related policy work looking at "self
regulation" (industry-lead) alternatives to achieving a similar outcome to
the provisions described in S17 and S18 on a non-statutory basis.

Please provide any cost estimates available for the ongoing work in the
policy areas described above for the current financial year(April 2011 to
March 2012) and future years according to the latest projections on the
department's five year plan (or equivalent).

I am writing to confirm that Ofcom has now completed its search, and can
confirm that in 2010/11 Ofcom spent £1.8m and in 2011/12 plan to spend
£4.0m. This includes work across all activities in relation to the
copyright infringement prevention measures of the Digital Economy Act 2010
and inclusions requested, except for DEA S17 & S18 (web blocking).

The draft statutory instrument which is to be made by the Secretary of
State under section 124M of the Communications Act 2003 in relation to the
apportionment of costs for the online copyright infringement provisions
provided that the costs of the scheme, including Ofcom's costs and those
of an appeals body, will be borne by copyright holders and internet
service providers on an ongoing basis. Copyright owners and internet
service providers would also be liable to pay Ofcom costs incurred prior
to the commencement of the scheme. The judgment of the Court in the
judicial review of the online copyright infringement provisions (The Queen
(on the application of British Telecommunications plc and Talk Talk Group
plc) and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills) found
that internet service providers should not be responsible for the payment
of a proportion of Ofcom costs or those of the appeals body. The judgment
is available at the following link:
[1]http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admi...

Ofcom has spent £0.1m on the report to review the potential efficacy of
the site-blocking provisions of the DEA (section 17 and 18).

With regard to future years spend we currently have no projection on costs
likely to be incurred by Ofcom beyond April 2012 in relation to the
copyright infringement prevention measures of the Digital Economy Act
2010. Please ensure that when using the provided information in any way,
you comply with all relevant legislation. For example, the information
provided may be protected by copyright under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988 (as amended). If in doubt, please seek independent legal
advice. For Ofcom's policy on copyright and related issues, please refer
to [2]http://www.ofcom.org.uk/disclaimer.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely,

INFORMATION REQUESTS

If you are unhappy with the response or level of service you have received
in relation to your request from Ofcom, you may ask for an internal
review. If you ask us for an internal review of our decision, it will
be treated as a formal complaint and will be subject to an independent
review within Ofcom. We will acknowledge the complaint and inform you of
the date by which you might expect to be told the outcome.

The following outcomes are possible:

o the original decision is upheld; or

o the original decision is reversed or modified.

Timing

If you wish to exercise your right to an internal review you should
contact us within two months of the date of this letter. There is no
statutory deadline for undertaking internal reviews and it will depend
upon the complexity of the case. However, we aim to conclude all such
reviews within 20 working days, and up to 40 working days in exception
cases. We will keep you informed of the progress of any such review. If
you wish to request an internal review, you should contact:

Graham Howell

The Secretary to the Corporation

Ofcom

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

From: Caroline Douglas
Sent: 20 May 2011 10:40
To: '[FOI #72102 email]'
Cc: Information Requests
Subject: FOI (1-178832741) - Cost of preventing Copyright Infringement
Online

Dear Mr Firth,

Freedom of Information: Right to know request

Thank you for your request for information asking for the cost to the tax
payer of preventing copyright infringement online under the Digital
Economy Act. Your request was received on 19 May 2011.

Generally any information provided will consist of copies of original
documents in paper or electronic format.

Where we hold the information you have requested we will endeavour to
answer your request in full and within 20 working days. If we are unable
to provide the information requested, we will explain why the information
has not been provided.

If you have any queries then please contact
[3][Ofcom request email]. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION REQUEST

If you are unhappy with the response or level of service you have received
in relation to your request from Ofcom, you may ask for an internal
review. If you ask us for an internal review of our decision, it will
be treated as a formal complaint and will be subject to an independent
review within Ofcom. We will acknowledge the complaint and inform you of
the date by which you might expect to be told the outcome.

The following outcomes are possible:

o the original decision is upheld; or

o the original decision is reversed or modified.

Timing

If you wish to exercise your right to an internal review you should
contact us within two months of the date of this letter. There is no
statutory deadline for undertaking internal reviews and it will depend
upon the complexity of the case. However, we aim to conclude all such
reviews within 20 working days, and up to 40 working days in exceptional
cases. We will keep you informed of the progress of any such review. If
you wish to request an internal review, you should contact:

Graham Howell

The Secretary to the Corporation

Ofcom

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

From: James Firth [mailto:[FOI #72102 email]]

Sent: 19 May 2011 13:25

To: Information Requests

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Money spent in 2010-11 FY on
Digital Economy Act and estimates for spending in 2011-12 FY

Dear Office of Communications,

Cost to the tax payer of preventing copyright infringement online

under the Digital Economy Act.

Please provide the sum total spent in the 2010-2011 financial

year(April 2010 to March 2011 inclusive) for all activities across

all cost codes for all work in relation to the copyright

infringement prevention measures of the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Please include all related work such as internal and external

(judicial) reviews of the Act itself, and policy work in relation

to drafting of the Initial Obligations Code and (Initial

Obligations) (Sharing of Costs) Order 2011.

Please also include policy work in relation to the use of DEA S17 &

S18 (web blocking) provisions, and any related policy work looking

at "self regulation" (industry-lead) alternatives to achieving a

similar outcome to the provisions described in S17 and S18 on a

non-statutory basis.

Please provide any cost estimates available for the ongoing work in

the policy areas described above for the current financial

year(April 2011 to March 2012) and future years according to the

latest projections on the department's five year plan (or

equivalent).

Yours faithfully,

James Firth

Editor, slightlyrightofcentre.com

show quoted sections

Francis Irving left an annotation ()

Blog post by Slightly Right of Centre who made this request

http://www.slightlyrightofcentre.com/201...

And a followup on how it was reported in the Guardian:

http://www.slightlyrightofcentre.com/