EC digital chief looks to cloud-based services to combat online piracy

The creative industries should use cloud computing, rather than ill-thought-out legislation, to beat online piracy according to the vice-president for the Digital Agenda in the European Commission (EC), Neelie Kroes.

Speaking at the European Parliament's Intellectual Property Forum in Brussels, Kroes said attempting to curb piracy with legal measures was not the sole answer, noting the outrage recently proposed anti-piracy legislation in the US had generated.

"We should not put in place disproportionate and highly intrusive measures with the potential to disrupt legitimate online activities," she said on Tuesday.

"I think the US legislators have done the right thing by making a pause and seeking a better anti-piracy solution than the SOPA and PIPA bills which were on the table."

Instead, she said the creative industries should harness cloud-based services to make their content more accessible to consumers.

"In the cloud era, with just an internet connection, you can access and provide content: wherever you are, through whatever device best suits you at the time. And all of it legally," she said.

"This is a great opportunity for creators and businesses. We see plenty of different business models using cloud technologies. From pure storage services, to social platforms, to user-created mixing facilities."

Kroes added that the EC would soon unveil its plans to nurture and promote cloud-based innovation in Europe.

"Before the summer, I intend to present a European Cloud Strategy in which we will assess all possible obstacles for the cloud to enable a flourishing business for content, both for providers and right-holders," she said.

The EC aims to double e-commerce sales by 2015 by fostering an environment that helps firms take advantage of the latest developments in technology.