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Digital Economy Bill [HL]

The amendment seeks to avoid excessive weight being placed on the civil courts. When someone admits their guilt, the process ought to be simple and structured; they should not be pitched into the uncertainties and high costs of the civil court system. There ought, at least at the first stage, to be a generally accepted level of penalties that can be applied. This would make life much easier for copyright owners in that they would not have the risks, difficulties and timescales of the civil court system. It would be much easier, too, for people who have admitted liability and just want to get it over and done with and to start behaving themselves. That, generally, would be a great weight off the court system. I offer that to the Minister as an idea for improving the Bill. I beg to move.