Three strikes and you are disconnected - If you're a Kiwi

[oggbashan]

More information from my book trade emagazine:

New Zealand: Internet users fight new copyright law
There has been uproar right across both islands as nearly all members of the public have voiced their opposition to a proposed new law.

Section 92a (Copyright Act 1994). This New Zealand law allows copyright holders to tell ISPs which of their customers to disconnect which they would be obliged to do in law upon the third accusation. Note the term `accusation'. There is no requirement for the copyright owner to prove anything. They simply have to `accuse' someone. There is no allowance for any `trial' either, no means for the accused to object, and no recourse or punishment for wrongful accusations. The police are not involved, neither are the judiciary. It appears to embrace all aspects of copyright and not just that covering the music world.

Looking at reports on the Internet other countries are looking at similar laws - though not with quite the same draconian consequences. It appears the main purpose of these laws relates to music - except in New Zealand where it affects all aspects of copyright. Other countries are considering similar laws: France, the UK, Ireland and others.

Will this mean that your copyright is protected better? Or will it mean that writers of fan-fic will be disconnected if they don't remove their story?

The implications are worrying for anyone who copies anything from the internet even for academic research.

Of course, I've broken the NZ law by quoting this copyright article!

Og

 

[Leto Degeneres]

Og, you're firing me up! This is second post of yours that has me fuming at laws, regulations, bureaucrats, and regulations. That does it! I'm going to bed!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

The US copyright law has exceptions in it for academic uses, so prof copying a page out of a book in the library for use in his lecture will not whined the prof on the wrong side of the law.

 

[oggbashan]

The US copyright law has exceptions in it for academic uses, so prof copying a page out of a book in the library for use in his lecture will not whined the prof on the wrong side of the law.

The NZ law was aimed at music downloads but has been drafted too widely. There is no burden of proof required, just three complaints, whether justified or not.

If I pursued every site that has pirated by writing as oggbashan - all those ISPs would be banned in New Zealand.

All I have to do is complain three times.

Og

 

[cantdog]

The US copyright law has exceptions in it for academic uses, so prof copying a page out of a book in the library for use in his lecture will not whined the prof on the wrong side of the law.

This thing bypasses that. Accuse the prof and he is dropped.

 

[ishtat]

Quick response??

NZ Prime Minister John Key has agreed that they will review this provision(Section 92A) in the law next Monday. One of the advantages of NZ's unicameral system of government is that they have a record of responding very quickly to this sort of issue.