Digital Economy Act delayed until 2014

The controversial and now long-delayed Digital Economy Act will not come into effect until 2014, the Department for Culture, media and Sport has announced.

It is not yet known whether or not the delay will have any implication for the introduction of new PEGI age ratings, which MCV this morning reported as being on track for July of this year.

The Digital Economy Bill will ushered into law at the end of the last Labour Government in 2010.

This also means that plans for a three strikes” policy – that would have seen internet blocks for those accused of accessing copyrighted material online – have also been put back.

Many organisations, such as the Internet Service Providers’ Association, are pleased with the delay, having vocally opposed many of the DEA’s plans from the offset.

Telcom duo BT and Talk Talk last month lost a two-year long appeal to have the DEA ruling overturned.