There is always concern in the UK about the stupidity and incompetence of the European Commission, and in this case it concerns updates to the Television Without Frontiers (1989) directive that would, according to today's Times, "require websites and mobile phone services that feature video images to conform to standards laid down in Brussels". The story says:
Shaun Woodward, the Broadcasting Minister, described the draft proposal as catastrophic. He said: "Supposing you set up a website for your amateur rugby club, uploaded some images and added a link advertising your local sports shop. You would then be a supplier of moving images and need to be licensed and comply with the regulations."
Woodward has the support of Slovakia, and "Ofcom, the media regulator, is also opposing the proposed directive, which it believes could discourage new multimedia business in Europe."
Comment: For more information, see It's TV, but not as we know it, published in the Technology section on Thursday July 6, 2006.
