A new Government bill looks set to be passed that will punish anyone caught illegally sharing gossip over the Internet. The Rumour Copyright Act aims to prevent unconfirmed titbits of information, usually involving celebrities or persons known to those sharing the gossip, from being redistributed without the consent of the originator.
“Each day thousands of people upload this information on the Interweb, often only intending it to be seen by close family or friends. Yet due to the very nature of the world wide net, these rumours can be globally republished within minutes. And the poor originator is left uncredited, with no recompense for their creativity whatsoever.” said LibDem peer Lord Ivan Barker-Sturgess, yesterday. He continued “And now that my good friends at the British Gossip Industry have drawn my attention to it, along with a brown envelope containing a large amount of cash, I am happy to support this bill, the subject of which I don't really understand in the slightest.”
A spokesman for the British Gossip Industry (BGI) stated “While there is little evidence to support that the creators of gossip are bothered by the fact that it is shared, we still feel that it is our best interests, and no-one else's, to introduce legislation that will uphold the fine tradition of our industry and continue to line our already overflowing pockets for years to come.”
Those expected to be hit hard by the bill are the average internet user, the administrators of those websites reproducing the gossip, and tabloid journalists, who may now be forced off their fat lazy arses to look for real news stories to write about.
