Tech & Biz

Section 92A: New Zealand Copyright Law Still Not Dead

by Jordan Yerman | February 25, 2009 at 12:38 pm

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New Zealand's bizaare copyright-infringement law, Section 92A, is not dead. Indeed, the RIAA's Kiwi wing and the politicians that love it are still coming up with spurious reasons why they should be able to cut off private citizens' web access without actual proof.

And, for the record, this is the second time I'm insinuating that legislators are downloading Split Enz tracks. Only one more accusation and, under 92A, they'd be rocking the pen and paper.

The enaction of Section 92A of the Copyright Amendment Act was delayed until March 27 yesterday so the sector can work to try and make laws acceptable to all parties.

"One of the challenges is that internationally, the equivalent of Section 92A is emerging around the world - Australia has a version, the UK has a version," he said.

This is untrue. Neither the UK nor the USA has any law under which content distributors can order a private individual's web access be cut off based solely on an accusation.

Even more disturbing, though, is how the recording industry is pushing back against complaints from ISPs in the ongoing "negotiations" around this bill. Computerworld New Zealand has a leaked memo from the RIANZ, the RIAA's New Zealand wing. In it, the industry complains that it's not reasonable to allow those accused of file sharing to have more than five days to file a counter-notice to fight back against bogus accusations of file sharing.

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barf (not verified)

at 13:58 on February 25th, 2009

the National party in New Zealand are motivated to introduce the legislation because it helps further trade agreements with the USA and Europe, a top policy priority.