Yahoo, Google, FB, eBay to Yakult: Your licensing regulations are so hazy

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

Another key concern is that the newly introduced framework is both ambiguous and onerous, whichcould negatively impact start-ups and multinationals operating or seeking to operate in Singapore:

The current vague and broad terms in the regulation and implementation will hamperinnovation and deter industry growth:

While ten sites have been identified and the government has clarified that personal blogs and websites will not fall under the purview of this licensing framework, it remains unclear which specific additional websites willeventually be required to have an individual license.

Currently, companies will only knowupon notification by the MDA.The language in the regulation remains vague and broad, and does not reflect theclarifications that the government has made. The government also has not provided clarityon how it would implement the regulation (e.g. when does a website cross the line tobecome a news site), which companies can reference and adequately assess if the regulationwould be applicable to them.

Additionally, it is unclear whether websites that are required to have an individual licensewill be liable for user-generated comments on their sites. It is essential that legal regimes donot put intermediaries in the untenable position of proactively policing content or hold themstrictly responsible for content generated by users. Online platforms have incentives toaddress misuse of their services. These market solutions should be allowed to operate andevolve within a light-touch regulatory regime that provides clarity for those regulated.

These types of uncertainties have a significant chilling effect on innovation and negatively impact Singapore’s ability to attract investments, both of which are critical to the healthy development of the infocomm and media sector in Singapore. To address this concern wepropose that an express statement clarifying that a licensed entity will not be liable for user-generated content on its platform should be included in the regulation.

- http://www.scribd.com/doc/151459859/...nd-Information


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