Do APRA realise?

i don't think APRA actually realise they're shitting all over the NZ internet industry and users rights to preserve their traditional revenue.

Spending a moment trying on their shoes - it would look initially like a glorious new world under new legislation. Wearing their shoes, i can see how *angry* the "theft" of their member's work via blatant sharing without permission feels.

They can take down these "thieves" using this law. But are they really so selfish they can't see all the casualties caught in the cross fire?

How can we explain it to them?

This new copyright law threatens the livelihood of those that work on the internet.

This law tramples on New Zealander's rights (artists included).

This law discriminates against those doing business on the interent - if you're accused of copyright in print or broadcast then you need proof, right to a trial, and you don't get summarily punished immediately. They don't remove a TV stations ability to broadcast, or a Magazine's right to publish immediately apon infringment accusation. The new copyright law will remove an internet business abiltiy to do any business immediately apon accusation.

This law discriminates against New Zealanders - we're left with the extra costs passed on by ISPs who become an unpaid copyright police force - we're also left with the threat of summary disconnection, website takedowns, and for some businesses the expense of a secondary connection just in case someone makes an accusation.

(It's worth noting that the costs needs to be somewhere. If not charged via ISPs, then where? on music purchases? in taxes? or do we choose to not police copyright infringment? I don't acutally want to buy or copy mainsteam music, i prefer creativecommons, free music, live music, and purchased indie music, but hey, i don't commit murder either yet i'm not complaing about my taxes going towards stopping it)

We're competing against businesses in countries that don't have these laws. I've heard potential clients intentions to take their webhosts and other internet activities offshore, so they don't have the threat of one accusation taking down their business applications.

The software industry is full of sharks - doing nasty things using - the SCO example comes to mind first. They and their kin can use these new copyright laws unfairly to keep competitors out.

Itellectual Property sharks are nasty -- They collect patents, build nothing, never attempt to use the patents they hoard, and suck money out of anyone who does attempt to build something. Give these kinda of legal sharks some draconian copyright law to play with too and now they have even more teeth, and more targets.

Perhaps RIANZ & APRA will always be diligent and only send accusations when there is a "high level of evidence" -- that doesn't remove the threat these new laws have over the heads of every internet user and internet business in New Zealand.