Board 27 April 2004
Tuesday, 27th April 2004 at 10 a.m.
At Baker and McKenzie, 100 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6JA
Present: Roger Darlington (Chair), Christine Atkinson, Michele Elliott, Hamish Macleod, Howard Lamb, Sonia Livingstone, Tink Palmer, Jim Reynolds, Ian Walden (joined the meeting at 11.30)
IWF Staff: Peter Robbins (Chief Executive), Brian Wegg
Apologies: Mark Gracey
Item 1- Apologies and introduction
Chair welcomed Hamish Macleod to his first meeting and noted Mark Gracey’s apology. Hamish Macleod and Mark Gracey had been elected by IWF Funding Council as industry representatives. Board expressed concern that Mark Gracey was still unwell. Chair shared with the meeting his concerns about the sad news with regard to the health of Nigel Williams.
ACTION 1: Secretariat to write to Mark and Nigel expressing our best wishes.
Item 2 - Minutes of last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 27th January 2004 were approved.
Item 3 - Matters Arising
- ACTION 1: Relevant URLs to be forwarded to all Board members; Board to receive an update at the next meeting – the meeting concluded that it was not appropriate to pursue this opportunity for research
- ACTION 2: Industry representatives to forward examples of their standard responses to the reports they receive on abuse, security issues and unacceptable use.
- ACTION 3: Executive to produce standard Hotline replies and forward a draft to all Board members. Board considered the draft response circulated before the meeting and suggested a number of improvements.
- ACTION 2: Board to feedback any further comments and the final draft to be circulated to Funding Council
- ACTION 4: An Ambassadorial role on behalf of IWF - Industry representatives to consult via Funding Council and next Board to discuss further as a matter arising – Funding Council had expressed concerns about the role and felt further clarification was necessary. Board noted their proposal that a time-limited working group should be formed in order to formulate a media and public affairs strategy where this issue could be considered.
- ACTIONS 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 had been carried out or were items elsewhere on the agenda.
There were no other matters arising.
Item 4 – Chair’s report – see attached
Chair introduced his report and invited questions. He drew particular attention to the issue of harmful content on the internet and felt Board should consider this issue more fully at a later date. In answer to a question Chair said that he would invite Richard Hooper from Ofcom to attend our Away Day in order to expand upon his recent comments about internet content and its regulation.
Item 5 – Chief Executive’s report – see attached
Chief Executive introduced his report and highlighted particular issues. Chief Executive clarified the position with regard to income arising from the members spreadsheet and agreed to circulate to each Board meeting a spreadsheet which presupposes members’ subscriptions at least at their current levels for the year.
ACTION 3: Revised members spreadsheet to future meetings
Board noted the summary of statistics from the annual report and considered the continuing problem with the proportion of illegal child abuse content hosted in US. With regard to US hosted content, it was noted that a US based news feed had enquired about the opportunity to receive our recommendations with regard to Usenet newsgroups. This was considered an encouraging development which may enable IWF to apply increased influence.
ACTION 4: US hosted content to be raised via the Home Office and G8 leadership
The options available for the development of the IWF logo were considered. It was noted that the present logo set on a blue background had presented difficulties because of its size. Following further discussion Board recommended that IWF adopt the predominantly red logo with the company named wrapped around the design and shown on the presentation page entitled “Incorporating the strap line into the design”.
ACTION 5: Executive to Consult Funding Council on the proposed change to the logo
(Ian Walden joined the meeting)
IWF role with regard to UK hosted criminally obscene content and the problems with international differences in obscenity laws were considered. Minors could be exposed to such content hosted online and IWF had briefed MPs, government officials and the media in order to highlight some of the difficulties with the application of the Obscene Publications Act and to make some suggestions on options for change. Board noted that some recent case law had moved towards a more supportive position.
ACTION 6: Ian Walden to circulate the judgment in the recent Perrin case and add some legal background setting the judgment and legal position in context.
Item 6 – Charitable status for the IWF – see attached
Board considered the report recommending that IWF make an application to the Charity Commission for charitable status. It was noted that our Memorandum and Articles of Association would require significant changes as part of the application. The position with regard to a trustee’s personal financial liabilities was clarified.
Board unanimously supported the recommendation that an application is made to the Charity Commission.
Item 7 – Nominet and potentially illegal domain names – see attached
Board noted Nominet’s likely response with regard to a notification from IWF that a UK registered domain name was a potentially illegal advertisement under the Protection of Children Act S. 1(1)(d). A domain name will only be cancelled or suspended by Nominet if a court order is received or where there has been a breach of contract. Board were encouraged that senior management at Nominet wished to have further meetings with IWF management and forge closer links.
Item 8 – Board Away Day 20th July
The arrangements for the next Board meeting and Away Day were discussed. It was agreed that the Chair would contact a facilitator to lead the discussions and that papers on technological developments, mobile internet and the issues raised from the staff Away Day would be considered on the day. The Board meeting will start at 11 a.m.
ACTION 7: Executive to ensure relevant papers are commissioned and reserve a venue.
Item 9 – Funding Council Constitution and elections to Board
Board considered the complaint and unanimously endorsed the decision of Executive Committee that there was no basis for the complaint.
- Tuesday 20th July – Board meeting at 11 a.m. followed by strategic discussions and evening dinner (Away Day)
- Tuesday 12th October
Meeting closed at 1 p.m
Minutes produced by Brian Wegg 4/05/2004
Page Created: Thu, October 7th, 2004
Page Modified: Tue, October 19th, 2004
