Ispa internet heroes and villains shortlist announced

Internet service provider's trade body Ispa has announced the shortlist for its Internet Villain and Internet Hero awards.

The Hero award is given to an organisation or individual who has made a significant contribution to the internet industry in the past year. The title of Villain recognises those that Ispa feels have had a negative impact upon the sector.

Shortlisted for the hero awards is the Featured Artists Coalition: “For recognising publicly that the focus of music companies should be the development of new business models for distributing content online rather than attempting to pass responsibility to ISPs to take action against users."

Also in line for the prize is the Community Broadband Network: "For their relentless pursuit and support for next generation access at grass roots level. "

Even the European Parliament gets a look in: "For adopting by a significant majority amendment 138/46 to the Telecom Package which states that internet users cannot be disconnected or restricted from the internet without a court order."

And while his broadband tax of £6 a year may not be too popular with consumers, Lord Carter has been shortlisted: “For his attempt to bring a holistic view to government policy across the communications spectrum."

And a name probably not that familiar with many in the UK is Thomas Gensemer: “For showcasing the enormous power of the internet in leading Barack Obama's online presidential campaign."

Four candidates who have not pleased Ispa this year have been put forward for the Internet Villain award and this year’s shortlist shows how truly global the internet is.

Step forward President Nicolas Sarkozy who has been nominated: “For his continued commitment to the Ha dopi law, which advocates a system of graduated response, despite repeated arguments suggesting the law is disproportionate from a number of important groups including the European Parliament."

Also included on the shortlist are Stephen Conroy and the Australian Government: “For continuing to promote network-level blocking despite significant national and international opposition."

The European Parliament appears again but this time cast as the villain: “For supporting amendment 84 to the Telecom Package demanding an opt-in for cookies which could yet bring the Internet to a standstill."

And our own home-grown Baroness Vadera makes an appearance: "For excluding a number of ISPs and Rights Holders in agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding that was exclusive and ineffective in progressing relations between the two industries."

Nicholas Lansman, Ispa secretary general, said: "The announcement of the Internet Hero and Internet Villain are always eagerly anticipated and give the awards night a great sense of occasion."

The winners will be selected from the finalists based on votes by members of the Ispa Council and announced, along with the winners of the 12 main awards, at a ceremony hosted at the London Marriott Hotel, London, on Thursday 9 July.