19/02/2009 - 3:50 p.m.

Just found out about an issue I should have been screaming about weeks ago.

The new copyright law will basically mean that "internet service providers would have to take on the role of "gatekeeper", blocking online access to anyone accused of flouting copyright laws and illegally downloading films and music." to quote Stuff.

I have many questions about this. Like how will they tell legitimate users like, oh say, Weta Workshops who move huge amounts of digital data in collaborative project from Joe Blow downloading the odd game or two? Especially given that the poor monitoring tech who will have to do the job is already overworked and underpaid and has to spend all his/their time finding the rubber bands to keep the internet connections around here working at all?

I mean we are talking about the company that has run the telecommunications infrastructure down to bare bones to keep its shareholders happy and the people who arbitrarily decided they would move to no paper statements and charge anyone who needed a paper copy. Not to mention various other chinless wonders (said in the nicest possible way given many of them are friends) who kick around in the industry.

Plus there are no clear provisions for right of appeal let alone consideration of the privacy implications of the monitoring that would be required.

While I approve of defending the rights of artists to monetary recognition of their efforts this law is somewhat akin to spanking a baby with an axe. Not to mention that in a country that has a huge involvement in digital media content creation this is going to present a major hazard to doing business and therefore discourage investment into the sector. And lord knows we need every penny we can get given our economy had started to tank a year before everyone else realized that eventually you have to pay off the credit card bills!

and if our government gets away with it who will try it next? So check out Creative Freedom NZ and join the blackout!

This is what you get for not paying attention to the news I guess.

Bels