ISPs must assume their responsibilities for the content they profited from for years, says Robin Gibb

Gibb addressed the annual IMRO sponsored conference of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland yesterday.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Radio: Stayin’ Alive’. More than 100 independent radio station owners, senior management, broadcasters and their guests attended yesterday's conference.

Robin Gibb had intended to travel to Dublin for the conference but was unable to do so as a result of the restrictions on air travel. Instead he addressed the conference by audio link from the UK.

A strong campaigner for the preservation of copyright and royalties, Robin Gibb is President of the International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CIASC). He addressed the conference on the contentious issue of music creators rights in the digital age.

“I believe that, like creators, broadcasters contribute to a healthy society," he said. "I believe that the same could be said about ISPs. By enabling access to the almost limitless possibilities and information offered on the web, ISPs have rapidly put themselves at the heart of most
modern societies.

"The importance of music as a driver for digital take-up is undisputed," he added, "and it would appear obvious that creators, their publishers and their collecting societies should engage with ISPs as a matter of course.

"However this does not seem to have happened. There is a disconnect between the parties, one that has been widened by the growth of internet piracy of writers music and by the ISPs default public position of hiding behind their mere conduit status and the necessity of net neutrality. This must change. I strongly believe that ISPs can no longer be considered as mere carriers like they used to be 20 years ago."

To read Robin's entire speech, click here