BPI setting Cameron's agenda for him

There's some good news - even those people who think that going through the motions of putting a three strikes style law on the Statute Book simply to have it thrown out again as illegal don't expect to see anything happen soon. Indeed, it's unlikely to happen in this government:

Industry group BPI, which represents the four big labels and independent music companies, believes the latest proposals from business secretary Peter Mandelson will significantly change consumer behaviour online and marginalise piracy within years.

"Assuming there is an election in May, then we believe the bill will be in the Queen's speech and that it should go through. It's got the full support of government and we believe the opposition will support it," said BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor.

"There will always be people who seek to work around the system. But the average consumer who pays for their jeans, pays for their car, we believe will be brought back into the legal market."

Full support of the government? Really? Although it wasn't part of the government's Digital Britain report?

And hoping for it to be a priority for a new Cameron regime seems to be a little naive - there are important national institutions to be destroyed, dammit. Expecting there to be legislative time for a measure like this to get rushed through would probably take a lot of lunches being bought for the Tories - especially if it doesn't turn up in their manifesto.

By the way: Geoff, you're confusing digital files with manufactured products again, aren't you? How about thinking instead of "people who pay a few pennies for tap water" or "people who enjoy going to see Christmas lights in neighbourhoods without expecting to then get a bill through the post a few days later despite the christmas lights costing money to put up and keep switched on."